Detroit Pistons: Isaiah Stewart might be a forward, and that could be a problem

Isaiah Stewart has had a great rookie season for the Detroit Pistons. However, there is a question as to what his position will be in the future. It could make a big difference in the Pistons plans.

When Isaiah Stewart was selected with the No. 16 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, there was not exactly dancing in the streets of Detroit.

Most mock drafts had Stewart going in the 20s of the first round. Heck, the mock draft on the NBA’s own site did not even have Stewart being taken at all in the first round!

With talented players unexpectedly still around at No. 16 (like Villanova’s Saddiq Bey), going for a 6-foot-8, 250-pound center who could not shoot from outside who turned the ball over a lot (3 times as many turnovers as assists in college), Stewart was not embraced by the general Pistons public.

When Stewart began the season as Detroit’s third-string center, behind Mason Plumlee and Jahlil Okafor, the selection did not look any better.

But boy have things changed!

When an injury to Okafor allowed Stewart some playing time, he took the opportunity and ran with it.

His relentless playing style, physicality and ability to gobble up rebounds soon make people take notice. Stewart became a fan favorite and even got a nickname ‘Beef Stew’, which is now on t-shirts.

No one is talking about Stewart being a reach at No. 16 any longer. He now regularly notches double-digits in scoring (going into the Minnesota game, he had scored 10 or more points in four of his last six games).

And you can’t buy Stewart a beer to congratulate him (legally) if you see him around town. He does not even turn 20-years-old until May 22.

Beef Stew has a bright future. How big? Will he be permanent rotation piece or a future All-Star? That is to be determined

What is also a bit murky is exactly what position Stewart will play in the future.