DETROIT >> The Detroit Pistons had a busy first two days of free agency. It began with them reaching a two-year agreement with Paul Reed, but they would go on to lose two of their most noteworthy players from the previous season.

The Pistons lost Tim Hardaway Jr. to the Denver Nuggets and Dennis Schröder to the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday. Additionally, due to the ongoing gambling investigation involving Malik Beasley, the sharp-shooting guard may have played his last game in Detroit.

Before the sign-and-trade deal that landed the Pistons Duncan Robinson from the Miami Heat, the first 48 hours had left more to be desired. However, the Pistons made a promising acquisition with the pending signing of guard Caris LeVert, who agreed on a two-year deal worth $29 million.

With his style of play and experience as a veteran, the former Michigan star has an opportunity to fill the void left by Schröder’s departure.

LeVert will continue to serve as a secondary ball-handler and scorer, capable of taking the helm as the primary playmaker for the second unit. The need for a backup floor general was always essential for the Pistons, but it escalated following the season-ending injury to Jaden Ivey in January.

LeVert will not only take on the role as a dependable backup for the bench unit, but when paired with Ivey and Cade Cunningham, he will also allow the Pistons to use their star guards in off-ball roles at times.

From Feb. 9 to April 13, Cunningham shot 40.0% on catch-and-shoot opportunities from beyond the arc while playing alongside Schröder. It’s a small sample size, considering the Pistons only ran the play for their All-Star guard 10.2% of the time last season. However, with LeVert’s playmaking, it’s an offensive playstyle that coach J.B. Bickerstaff may look to utilize more next season.

LeVert played two and a half seasons under Bickerstaff in Cleveland and had arguably his best production as a backup floor general. He averaged 4.0 assists per game throughout his career and has often excelled as a reserve playmaker. His best year as a facilitator came during the 2023-24 season.

Coming off the bench as the Cavaliers’ Sixth Man, he notched a career-high average of 5.1 assists while registering 13.6 assists points created. He did so while maintaining his skills as a reliable scorer, averaging 14.0 points per game on 42.1% shooting from the field.

As an average 3-point shooter, LeVert’s primary scoring strength lies in his ability to drive to the basket and finish at the rim. In 68 games played that season, 47.7% of Levert’s scoring opportunities came when attacking downhill.

LeVert also possesses the intangibles to be a solid contributor on the defensive end. He is a noteworthy two-way player who can contribute to Detroit’s perimeter defense, particularly in his ability to disrupt the passing lane, similar to Ausar Thompson.

Last season, LeVert played 26 games with the Hawks following a trade from Cleveland, ranking third on the team in deflections with an average of 2.2 per game. He finished his tenure in Atlanta with a scoring average of 14.9 points on 48.2% shooting from the field and 3.0 assists.

The Pistons will be LeVert’s fifth team in his 10th NBA season after the Indiana Pacers drafted him in the first round in 2016. He has also played for the Nets. The Nets and Cavaliers qualified for the postseason during his time with those teams, while the Hawks finished last season as a Play-In Tournament team.

LeVert has built a solid NBA career playing a vital and productive role on each team he has joined. Now, the veteran guard will look to continue his success in Detroit.