I feel the problem with the team going into 2016 is that they are still in no man's land. They could easily make the playoffs in the East just by continuing their performance. With the defense likely to continue improving (defense often takes a year to be established and run properly), improvement in record could come pretty easily even if we lose Monroe (who is a really good player and unreasonably criticized by Piston fans).
Of course, playoffs in the East doesn't really mean much. We are still a long way from contending, and the things we would need aren't readily available. We have all the pieces to be an average team. We have a PG that can succeed in the system, but who will never be truly elite. We have an improving young center with all the potential in the world, but who still seems years away from reaching it. We have half of a SG (KCP at home). But that's it. SF and PF are huge holes, and we don't have any all-around stars that make it easier to fit cheap role-players.
Next year I expect the record to improve, but there needs to be a ton of development and smart moves to be better than a bottom seed in the East. Maybe that works out. Maybe the team lands great fits and players like Draymond and Middleton. Maybe it is able to pick those guys up and keep Reggie at a reasonable price (not the max). That could be a huge boost. But the likely situation is that the team overpays Reggie and some role players, gets a little better, and is stuck waiting on Drummond turning into Dwight before it really becomes more than a first-round-out.
