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Detroit Pistons player preview: Expectations for Henry Ellenson

By Steve Pelletier

Henry Ellenson #8 of the Detroit Pistons (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Henry Ellenson #8 of the Detroit Pistons (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 31: Henry Ellenson #8 of the Detroit Pistons reacts after making a three point play in the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks during their game at Madison Square Garden on March 31, 2018 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 31: Henry Ellenson #8 of the Detroit Pistons reacts after making a three point play in the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks during their game at Madison Square Garden on March 31, 2018 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

Role in the rotation

So let’s move our focus off of Henry Ellenson for a minute, and ponder the rotation in order to figure out if the forward can even crack the top 10.

Reggie Jackson, Luke Kennard, Reggie Bullock, Blake Griffin, Andre Drummond, and Ish Smith are undoubtedly the top six.

Beyond that, Langston Galloway, Jon Leuer, Glenn Robinson III, Stanley Johnson, and Zaza Pachulia will be competing for that bench mob alongside of Ellenson.

On one hand, this is good for Ellenson as there are less bodies in the front court and he’s the youngest of all the guys there. Leuer, Pachulia, and Griffin all have age and injuries working against them as well.

This means that Ellenson’s chances for playing regular minutes are much higher than someone like Galloway.

Johnson and Robinson have to play though as they both provide the only wing depth. Leuer’s salary necessitates that the team play him, if for no other reason than to pump his trade value back up.

And Pachulia gives the Detroit Pistons much-needed defense in the front court from the bench. So, in my mind, the most common rotation players will be:

  1. Andre Drummond
  2. Blake Griffin
  3. Reggie Jackson
  4. Reggie Bullock
  5. Luke Kennard
  6. Ish Smith
  7. Stanley Johnson
  8. Glenn Robinson III
  9. Jon Leuer
  10. Zaza Pachulia

As of today, I think Ellenson is the 11th man at best. He would have to jump Leuer or Pachulia during training camp in order for him to move beyond that.

He’ll also most likely battle Galloway for that 11th man spot, and it’s more likely that Ellenson gets it.

As mentioned before, the front-court depth is shaky. Ellenson also doesn’t have to compete with two rookies at the two positions he can play, while Galloway does with Khyri Thomas and Bruce Brown.

There’s also the fact that Ellenson has skills his fellow backups don’t. He can flat-out score.

While he may not be efficient, he possesses the natural ability to put the ball on the floor and get buckets no matter what.

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