In 2015, Stanley Johnson was the eighth overall selection by the Detroit Pistons in the NBA draft. After having three disappointing seasons, there’s a new regime in charge in Detroit.
He was drafted to be a centerpiece to a Pistons team that was on the rise. Instead, he was a bit of project piece. The years that followed were frustrating for a lot of fans to watch.
That’s not completely on Johnson, however.
Under former head coach Stan Van Gundy, it never seemed like there was a place for Johnson in his system. He wasn’t used to reach his full potential.