Detroit Pistons: So who gets benched by No. 1 NBA Draft pick?

If Jalen Green is starting for the Detroit Pistons, Hamiduo Diallo (or Wayne Ellington) is not

While Pistons fans have been obsessed with Cade Cunningham, there has been a lot of scuttlebutt in NBA circles that Detroit really likes Jalen Green. Really, really likes the 6-foot-6 G-League player.

If Detroit took Jalen Green, it might enrage the fan base, but it would not be an utter shock. In terms purely of fit (if anyone cares about fitting in with a 20-52 team), Green is the best fit for the lineup.

Green can score, the Pistons, outside of Jerami Grant, do not really have anyone else who can do that. You pair Green in the backcourt with expert passer Killian Hayes, and you are off to the races.

DIallo now comes off the bench, instead of starting at two guard. The effect is the reverse of Suggs and Mobley. This move helps the Pistons on offense, but hurts them defensively. Green is not awful on defense, but Diallo is exceptional. He can shut down an opponent’s wing with no help. That is big, and we know coach Casey loves defense.

While Diallo may not start, he should, as backup to Green and small forward Saddiq Bey, get plenty of minutes. Assuming both will play no more than 28 minutes a game. That is 40 minutes of playing time that Diallo can get a good chunk of.

And, as they say, it is not who starts, but who finishes. WIth Bey and Green so inexperienced, it would not be a surprise if Diallo is in for one of them at the end of games this season.

Green boosts the Pistons offense and Diallo helps strengthen the bench. Win-win, although Diallo will be a very expensive sub.