Report: Pistons destined for lottery again

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After the widely expected departure of Greg Monroe in free agency, the Detroit Pistons responded by re-signing Reggie Jackson and trading for Marcus Morris and Danny Granger, among others. Combined with the addition of Stanley Johnson with the eighth overall pick in the draft, the Pistons' roster has a different look to it as it prepares for next season.

Different doesn't necessarily mean better, according to the Detroit Free Press. Columnist Drew Sharp thinks the team is "destined for mediocrity again."

From Sharp:

    "Their relatively pedestrian free-agent signings and the three players acquired from a trade with the Phoenix Suns basically amount to driving around a neighborhood on the morning of the weekly trash pickup just to see whether anybody threw away anything salvageable. This summer hasn't exactly been Plan A for Stan Van Gundy … or Plan B … C … or even D. When the best thing anyone can say about your acquisitions is that they've improved depth or increased competition, it's basically an admission that mediocrity remains the highest ceiling. And that's the worst possible scenario for the Pistons — not bad enough to get a top-five lottery pick but not good enough to make the lowest playoff seed. That's stagnation."