Can Detroit Pistons Realistically Revive a New 'Bad Boy' Era?

Dating back to Joe Dumars' days at the helm, the Detroit Pistons have consistently excelled in the art of creating hope. The hope came from bold offseason acquisitions—from Ben Gordon to Josh Smith, would-be stars who were supposed to make the difference.

Again, the outlook is rosy. Again, there is hope. The question is whether it's well-founded this time, whether team president and head coach Stan Van Gundy can restore some pride to the franchise in his second year on the job. To do so, he may have to restore something else, too: that late '80s "Bad Boys" identity.

Point guard Reggie Jackson argued for a return to that bruising style, as much an ethos as a strategy, per MLive.com's Brendan Savage:

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It was an era. It's a mentality. It never can be duplicated but it's something that I guess is kind of a foundation here, and hopefully we can be mentioned one day amongst the '89 season and those guys, (Dennis) Rodman and Isiah (Thomas) and Joe Dumars, (Bill) Laimbeer and all them. Hopefully we can bring that same style here, physical and all business. We're here to play. We're here to compete. We don't necessarily have to be your friends on the court. We don't care how you feel about us. We're here to get a win by any means. I grew up a Bulls fan but they definitely elevated (Michael) Jordan's game by being who they were and hopefully we can take on their persona.

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It's an undeniably attractive scenario—Andre Drummond using his hulking frame to anchor a grittier, toughened and defensively minded lineup. One could easily and optimistically imagine rookie swingman Stanley Johnson using his NBA-ready body to exert that kind of energy on the perimeter. And he isn't the only new addition who could shake up Detroit's culture (in the best possible way).

This Generation's Thomas and Dumars?

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Jackson himself is something of a new addition, acquired via trade from the Oklahoma City Thunder last season near February's trade deadline. Previously a restricted free agent this summer, the 25-year-old recently signed a new deal with the Pistons reportedly worth $80 million over the next five years.

"It was a big day for us last year when we made the trade for Reggie, but now to get him locked up for the long term is even bigger for us," Van Gundy said, per the Associated Press. "We look at Reggie as a big part of our foundation that we're trying to build here."

While it's tempting to second-guess the price tag, Van Gundy also suggested the deal would be quite palatable in retrospect, also per Savage:

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There's one thing in this job that bothers me: Losing. That's the only thing that bothers me. We're trying to build a foundation of a team that can win for years to come. We think Reggie is a huge part of that. The only thing that mattered in this whole process with us was to make sure we got him signed long term. As we get two years down the road and look at what's going on in this league and where the numbers are going to go and how Reggie is going to play, this is going to be a bargain.

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A bargain perhaps, but much of the final assessment will depend on how other pieces fit with Jackson.

Van Gundy and Co. already have decisions to make about their backcourt rotation. Though point guard Brandon Jennings is still recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon he suffered last season, his return will assure the Pistons two starting-caliber floor generals. They could conceivably see playing time together, forging an undersized backcourt that slightly echoes the pairing of Dumars and the iconic Isiah Thomas.

To be sure, Jennings/Jackson is no Thomas/Dumars. The Bad Boys' backcourt was one for the ages. Detroit's current duo is an open question, loaded with potential but unproven in the leadership and winning departments. Jackson averaged an impressive 17.6 points and 9.2 assists in 27 appearances with the Pistons (all starts), while Jennings tallied 15.4 points and 6.6 assists in 41 games before being injured.

The big question will be whether there's enough playing time to go around for the two guards and (relatedly) whether they can coexist on the floor at the same time. Teams like the Phoenix Suns have experimented with small backcourts with a fair amount of success, and there's no reason Detroit can't do the same. 

One can only hope promising swingman Kentavious Caldwell-Pope doesn't get lost in the mix. The 22-year-old has strong defensive makeup, solid range and superior athleticism. If the Pistons are serious about recreating that Bad Boy culture, Caldwell-Pope could be an important part of the solution. 

The Bruisers

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Led by center Bill Laimbeer and fellow big men Dennis Rodman, John Salley and Rick Mahorn, the Bad Boy Pistons boasted a deep and relentless interior rotation. Even with Drummond manning the middle, today's Pistons have some work to do on that front.

Ersan Ilyasova will reliably rebound and stretch the floor at the power forward position after the organization acquired him via trade from the Milwaukee Bucks this summer. And former San Antonio Spur Aron Baynes will help fortify Detroit's front line behind Drummond. The departure of Greg Monroe will hurt, but things could certainly be worse. The Pistons have some weapons, and they just might fit.

This summer's most important addition may be 6'9" forward Marcus Morris. He may well start at the 3, but he's versatile enough to guard some 4s as well. An active two-way player with decent range, the 25-year-old can operate from the wing or in the post, and he could legitimately blossom given a more prominent role in Detroit.

He wasn't pleased with the way the Phoenix Suns handled his trade to the Pistons, and he appears motivated to demonstrate he's more than a complementary contributor, per the Detroit Free Press' Perry A. Farrell:

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This gives me a chance to branch out. In my opinion, God works in mysterious ways, and He has plans for certain people. Everybody knew how bad I wanted to play with my brother. Phoenix knew. For them to trade me without consent or telling me was like a slap in the face, because of the contract I took from those guys and the money I took from them. I'm happy to be here. I'm a Piston. I'm a Bad Boy. I'm ready to get started.

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A chip on the shoulder may be this team's best friend. That Bad Boy persona requires fuel, and someone like Morris could provide that in part. He's got something to prove, and so do these Pistons. 

Back to the Future

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Going forward, much depends on the organization's ability to retain Drummond for the long-term. He could strike an agreement with Detroit on an extension this summer.

"We will get into those talks," Van Gundy said earlier this month, per The Detroit News' Terry Foster. "We agreed we would get into this after this free-agency period and after the summer league. There is no rush. We have until the end of October so we will get into those talks in the next couple of weeks."

"What you are talking about there is more timing than anything. It is not like you will be haggling over dollars, so it is a different situation."

Keeping Drummond is of considerable consequence. Beyond his defensive and rebounding responsibilities, he's growing into an increasingly formidable low-post scorer.

As NBA.com's Keith Langlois recently put it, "Over the last two months of 2014-15, though, Drummond flashed an increasingly effective post game with a baby hook as the staple. His strength, first-step quickness and developing touch make you wonder what Drummond—still just 21—might evolve into over the next few seasons."

The Pistons may yet be another piece away from assembling a true contender, but a core built around Drummond and Jackson could be a start. Fans in these parts have heard that before, unfortunately, so many will await results before any celebrations. 

If these Pistons are indeed heirs to the Bad Boys' throne, the proof will be in the wins.

A cultural shift probably won't occur overnight for this team. Though the roster is much-improved, it still lacks the kind of veteran leadership one generally associates with defensively-minded contenders. And after ranking 21st in defensive efficiency last season (allowing 104.2 points per 100 possessions according to Hollinger Team Stats), there's clearly still work to be done. 

Perhaps these Pistons can do it. Channeling a decades-old, legendary team-wide personality certainly wouldn't hurt.