The Detroit Pistons kick off their season on Wednesday at home against the Orlando Magic. The Pistons are still one of the youngest teams in the league, but they are expected to improve on their 23 wins from last year. The Pistons return much of their central core, but added reinforcements in additional young talent and established veterans. In the youth department, top picks, Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren inject the roster with much-needed athleticism. To complement the youngsters, Bojan Bogdanović and Alec Burks are knockdown shooters who should free up space for everyone. With all these additions, here is our prediction: Detroit Pistons’ player roles and impact.
What role and impact will each player have this season?
Cade Cunningham | Expected Role: Starting point guard – offensive engine
In only his second year, Cade Cunningham will be handed the keys to the offense. He will be relied on to create offense for himself and others. If the Pistons want a competent offense, Cunningham needs to carry the offense for stretches, especially down the stretch of close games. That is a lot of pressure for a 21-year-old, but Cunningham has shown he can deliver in these scenarios.
Cunningham will face even stingier defense this season as he will be #1 on opposing teams scouting reports. However, Cunningham has incredible vision and basketball IQ to manipulate defenses and create separation for himself or others. The one thing he will need to focus on is the turnovers. It is normal for young guards to struggle with turnovers, but as the season progresses, Cade will need to limit turnovers to be effective as a lead guard. If he can do that, Cunningham should improve on last year’s stats and could be in the discussion for an All-Star selection.
Jaden Ivey | Expected Role: Starting shooting guard – slasher
With the 5th pick, the Pistons added Jaden Ivey to pair with Cunningham in the backcourt, and he looks primed to start day one. Ivey makes sense next to Cunningham as he is such a different player. In contrast to Cunningham’s methodical style, Ivey is an absolute blur who can seemingly get to the rim at will. Early on, Ivey will be asked to do just that. When defenses collapse or rotate to stop Cade, Ivey can attack the scrambling defense and finish at the rim or find an open shooter.
As with all rookies, Ivey will need to expand his game in the NBA as teams adjust quickly to one-trick ponies. Defenses will try to force him out of the paint and make him beat them as a shooter from the mid-range or three. Ivey needs a reliable catch-and-shoot jumper and a floater or midrange jumper to keep defenses honest. If he does that, he will be a chore to stop in the pick and roll and can take a lot of pressure off Cade.
Saddiq Bey | Expected Role: Starting forward – shooter, tertiary creator
Saddiq Bey is coming off a sophomore season where he sacrificed efficiency for increased volume. This season, he will look to find a balance between the two. From three, Bey can be lethal with microwave ability. When he really gets it going, he is incredible to watch and is capable of dropping 50. Last season, Bey added a midrange game to compliment his three-point shot. When defenses close out too hard, Saddiq can get to the rim, shoot a midrange jumper, or even post up a smaller defender.
With all these new skills, Bey needs to learn how to balance his different shots. Bey has passed up open threes for contested midranges or side-step threes, or he has taken a contested turnaround instead of finding the open teammate. This season, he needs to focus on making the right decision, and it should improve as he gets more experience. Luckily for him, the next player has built a career on doing just that.
Bojan Bogdanović | Expected Role: Starting forward – shooter, secondary creator
New addition Bojan Bogdanović gives the Pistons a reliable NBA scorer in the first unit. With Bogdanović, it all starts with the three-point shot. He is a career 39% shooter who cannot be left open from deep. His shooting ability will open up defenses and give the young players space to operate. That is not all he brings to the table. He is a smart and efficient three-level scorer who can even score in the post. When the young players struggle, Bogdanović can step up and keep the offense going. Bogdanović was a savvy addition who should help in the short term and with the young players’ long-term development.
Isaiah Stewart | Expected Role: Starting Center – dirty work specialist
With Bogdanović, Bey, and likely Ivey being defensive negatives, the Pistons need a defensive-focused center. What that in mind, Isaiah Stewart makes the most sense as the starter. Stewart is the best defender the Pistons have and one of the better defenders in the league. Stewart can switch onto guards and hold his own, and despite only being 6’9, he is one of the better rim protectors and rebounders in the league.
Offensively, Stewart has the most area to grow. This offseason, he’s put a huge focus on his shooting, and it has shown in Summer League and pre-season. Stewart looks like a confident shooter who should be able to shoot in the mid-’30s on good volume. This will really help his offensive game as he struggles in the dunker spot. In the regular season, Stewart needs to continue to shoot to keep defenses honest and allow the rest of the offense to flow.
Killian Hayes | Expected Role: Bench Point Guard – 2nd unit floor general
Last year, former lottery pick, Killian Hayes was moved to the bench. While it is disappointing to see a lottery pick moved to the bench, this role suits Hayes much better. Coming off the bench, Hayes can play with the ball in his hands more where he shines. Hayes is the best passer on the team and is a good ball handler where he can get into the teeth of the defense and then find the open teammate. On top of that, Hayes is the best perimeter defender on the team. Coming off the bench, he can be put on the opposition’s best guard and harass them in short bursts.
Obviously, it has not been as rosy for Hayes in his short career. This can all be tied down to his scoring struggles. Hayes has been bad shooting from the perimeter and tentative inside the arc. This really negates his passing ability as defenses don’t respect him as a scoring threat and just defend the pass.
Judging from preseason and interviews, Hayes understands this and has looked much more aggressive. Hayes does not need to transform into a sniper to become a useful bench player. If Hayes continues to be aggressive, particularly in the midrange and paint, defenses have to respect his scoring, and he can use his natural passing ability. If he can do it efficiently, Hayes can become a valuable defensive-minded guard like Derrick White or Marcus Smart.
Alec Burks | Expected Role: Bench guard – perimeter scorer
Unfortunately, offseason addition, Alec Burks will start the season in street clothes as he is recovering from injury. But when he is healthy, Burks will bring veteran marksmanship that should pair well next to Hayes off the bench. While Hayes will lean more toward passing and setting up teammates, Burks can focus on getting buckets. Burks brings tough shotmaking from the midrange and three. He has shot over 40% from three the past three years on tough attempts. With the bench unit, Burks will be relied upon to space and the floor and to open up space for other players.
Isaiah Livers | Expected Role: Bench forward – 3 & D wing
Second-round pick, Isaiah Livers looked like a steal after returning from his foot injury. Livers can be an ultimate role player if he continues his play over an extended period of time. Livers does not need the ball offensively, but defenses must account for him at all times because he will hit threes from all over the court. Defensively, Livers is not a lockdown one-on-one defender, but he looks like he should be a big positive on that end. He does a great job communicating and makes great rotations. Livers might never be a star, but wings who can shoot and defends are necessary for championship teams. If Livers plays at that level for a whole season, he will definitely be one of the bigger steals of the draft and a fan favorite.
Marvin Bagley | Expected Role: Bench forward/center – 6th man, interior scorer
Former number 2 pick, Marvin Bagley shined after the Pistons acquired him from Sacramento. Bagley’s role in Detroit was quite simple, but with his natural gifts, he shined. Bagley mainly functioned as a roll man for the Pistons’ young guards. He was great there as he excels at catching lobs and has great touch at the rim. Even if he is coming off the bench, Bagley should still get plenty of time overlapping with Cade as the best lob threat on the roster. Bagley also adds value as a face-up option within 15 feet. If the 2nd unit offense stagnates, they can dump the ball to Bagley and let him finish over a defender one-on-one. At this point in his career, Bagley’s limitations as a shooter and defender limit his upside, but he can be a very valuable 6th man.
Jalen Duren | Expected Role: Competing for bench center – interior defender/finisher
Jalen Duren enters the league as the youngest player in the entire NBA at only 18 years old. Despite that, he has shown he is ready to compete with Nerlens Noel for minutes. Duren is built like a grown man with explosiveness near the rim. Those gifts allow him to block and alter shots at the rim and rebound on both sides of the floor. Duren has even shown some switchability on the perimeter.
This is incredibly exciting, but he does have some warts. In the preseason, Duren struggled with foul trouble as savvy NBA players baited him into fouls. He also just needs seasoning on other defensive nuances like proper positioning and rotations. These things aren’t death blows or anything, just things that will have to come with time. The Pistons have been high of Duren’s readiness, so I would expect them to throw him on the floor to learn on the fly. If he does get in over his head or in foul trouble, the Pistons can turn to Noel to stabilize the position.
Nerlens Noel | Expected Role: Competing for bench center – interior defender
Center Nerlens Noel was also brought over from the Knicks with Burks. Noel is a savvy vet who definitely has value as an NBA rotation player. He is a good rim protector and provides a lob threat on offense. The biggest issue for Noel is he is competing with Duren who is highly valued as a core piece in Detroit. On a win-now team, Noel would easily get minutes over Duren, but the Pistons should value Duren’s growth and development over a few wins this year. This does not mean Noel is useless. He can provide mentorship for Duren and the other young bigs, and if any of them struggle or get hurt, Noel can step in seamlessly.
Hamidou Diallo | Expected Role: Competing in the wing rotation – slasher
After a good season, Hamidou Diallo has not had a great offseason, to no fault of his own. First, the Pistons drafted Jaden Ivey 5th overall, another slasher without a great shot. Then, Diallo had a quad injury which prevented him from playing in preseason and fighting for minutes. All in all, it looks like again, Diallo will start the season out of the rotation.
Diallo is another player who can shine in the right role, but it might not be in Detroit. He is a great athlete who can get to the rim and finish at a great clip. But, his Achilles heel has always been his outside shot. Diallo is a non-shooting guard on a team with two in Killian Hayes and Ivey. Because of that, Diallo should start outside of the rotation as the Pistons’ spacing can’t afford another non-shooter. Despite that, Diallo will still fight for a rotation spot and could earn one at some point in the season. With injuries, struggles, or even trades, Diallo is going to be called upon at some point, and he can earn a permanent rotation spot then.
Cory Joseph | Expected Role: 3rd point guard
Despite the fans’ thoughts on him, Cory Joseph does bring value to the Pistons, particularly off the court. Joseph is entering his 12th season in the NBA in a variety of different roles. The young players need vets who have been around the block as they adjust to the travel and other intricacies of NBA life. Joseph has been a great leader to the young guys and hasn’t complained even as his role diminished to the point where he might not be in the rotation. On the court, Joseph actually should start the season in the rotation with Burks and Diallo out with injuries. Joseph does have his limitations, but he can run an NBA offense and hit outside shots. Joseph is a great veteran guy who will do his role no matter what and help the young guys however he can.
Kevin Knox | Expected Role: Wing depth/reclamation project
The third former Knick, Kevin Knox was brought in as depth at the forward positions. Knox is a good athlete with good size where he can defend both the 3 and 4. Plus, Knox has a good-looking outside shot even though it hasn’t translated to makes at the NBA level. With those gifts, Knox could still turn into an NBA player. At 6’7 215 lbs, Knox really just needs a consistent outside shot and some defensive chops to stick in the NBA. Knox needs to develop these skills with the coaching staff and take advantage if he gets game minutes.
Rodney McGruder | Expected Role: Veteran mentor, shooter
Like Joseph, Rodney McGruder is on the team for his off-the-court impact. In an interview with the Bun and Cardigan podcast, Isaiah Stewart mentioned McGruder repeatedly which shows how much younger players like McGruder. It may not be possible to quantify McGruder’s impact on the team, but he definitely has one. Especially since most 14th/15th men don’t get any minutes, it is important they find ways to contribute in other ways, and McGruder definitely does that.
Final Thoughts
Every year of the Troy Weaver era, the Pistons look more and more like a team that could compete in the playoffs. This season, they aren’t at that level, but it is the most complete the roster has looked. Even if they fall short of the play-in, the improved roster should help with everyone’s development. Jalen Duren and Marvin Bagely will help the Piston’s young guards in the pick-and-roll as lob threats. The guards’ ability to break down defenses should help the bigs and shooters get easy looks, and the shooters should open the floor up for everyone. No matter what the final record looks like, this should be a very exciting season as the core continues to develop and grow together.
All stats via Basketball-Reference
