Post#78 » by Brapman » Tue Feb 9, 2016 6:35 pm
Hilliard in Detroit continues to get a lot of minutes and is scoring and playing quite well. He's ambidextrous (which is an underrated skill in this league), is showing a lot of intelligent offensive BB IQ, fine handle, smart cuts without the ball, and the ability to hit shots from all over the floor. He's presenting the Pistons an intriguing option this season and for future seasons.
The team really likes KCP. SJ is showing true 2 position versatility, and I believe will even play some PF and PG in future years. Morris is playing SF, wants to play PF also - but Van Gundy has said that his nine best players include Tolliver and Ilyasova, and until KCP's injury wasn't giving Hilliard much run.
KCP isn't much of a facilitator, but SJ and Hilliard definitely are and both these guys should turn out to be very good 3 pt shooters. I believe KCP will also become a top two-way SG. Morris is a facilitator at times, and at other times is the Pistons best isolation player and the ball stops with him.
Tolliver is on an expiring contract, Ilyasova has a team option for next season at a reasonable 8.5 million salary. If Hilliard develops well over the summer (not every young player does that after his rookie season, but many do), and assuming that SJ does (as that's his reputation), it'll be fascinating to see how SVG structures his team. Perhaps there'll be a trade. The team has about $30 million in cap space. But Hilliard is wedging himself into strong consideration for a serious rotation role, and he brings talents the team can really use surrounding the main PNR action between the team's two current stars, Jackson and Drummond.
This is a team to note. Young stars all over the court, growing up together. They could be a lot better as early as next season.
