The Detroit Pistons roster is going to look slightly different this season with the additions of Cade Cunningham and Kelly Olynyk and coach Dwane Casey is going to have a lot more lineup flexibility.
There are still some loose ends to tie up, such as the status of Hamidou Diallo, who still hasn’t re-signed and is probably weighing offers from other teams.
The Pistons can match any offer for Diallo and go over the cap to do it, so if they want to keep him, they will.
But the Pistons have already committed to Frank Jackson, offering him a two-year deal after he performed well off of their bench last season.
Jackson provided some instant offense off the bench, hitting over 40 percent of his 3-point shots and often pushing the pace in transition.
Frank Jackson could prove to be one of the best value contracts in the league, especially if he can play a bigger role this season for the Detroit Pistons.
Detroit Pistons: Frank Jackson’s contract is a steal
Frank Jackson’s deal is reportedly for 2 years/$6.2 million, which represents pretty good value for a guy who shot the ball well and carried the team offensively at times last season.
What’s even better about this deal is that the second year is a team option, so if things don’t work out with Jackson for some reason, the Pistons can just walk away.
Jackson bet on himself last season by taking a two-way contract and it paid off, as he earned his way into the rotation and got himself a pay day.
The question is whether there is another level to Frank Jackson, and if he can play a bigger role in for the Pistons this season.
Detroit Pistons: Frank Jackson in the starting lineup
If I had to guess, I’d say the Pistons’ opening night starting lineup will look like this:
- PG: Killian Hayes
- SG: Cade Cunningham
- SF: Saddiq Bey
- PF: Jerami Grant
- C: Kelly Olynyk
It’s possible that Isaiah Stewart will get the nod, but after suffering an offseason ankle injury, we’ll have to wait and see.
Although I really love the defensive potential of the Hayes/Cunningham backcourt, I also love the idea of bringing Hayes off the bench as a playmaker for the second unit.
I also think that Cade Cunningham needs to be surrounded by guys who can take advantage of his passing, as he already has a lot of frustrating “potential assists” and we’re only in the 2nd game of Summer League.
That’s why I wouldn’t mind seeing a rotation that looked like this:
- PG: Cade Cunningham- Killian Hayes- Cory Joseph- Saben Lee
- SG: Frank Jackson-Hamidou Diallo
- SF: Saddiq Bey- Josh Jackson- Isaiah Livers
- PF: Jerami Grant- Sekou Doumbouya- Trey Lyles
- C: Isaiah Stewart-Kelly Olynyk-Frank Garza
Moving Frank Jackson into the starting five would give Cade Cunningham another weapon to work with and would spread the floor and allow him to set up his teammates.
With Olynyk moving to the bench, Killian Hayes would still have a shooter to run the pick-and-roll with while Diallo, Jackson and hopefully Doumbouya hold down the defense.
It spreads the scoring more evenly and gives the Pistons versatile lineups for both units.
I know this is very unlikely to happen, as there are also some solid reasons for going with a totally different look.
Detroit Pistons: Frank Jackson could be a weapon off the bench
Bench players often get exposed if they play too much, which may happen if Frank Jackson were to move to the starting lineup.
He might be better off as a spark plug off the bench, a guy like Jordan Clarkson who can occasionally come in and take over a game in short stretches.
It would also offer the Pistons’ bench more balanced scoring:
- PG: Cade Cunningham-Killian Hayes
- SG: Hamidou Diallo-Frank Jackson
- SF: Saddiq Bey-Josh Jackson
- PF: Jerami Grant-Sekou Doumbouya
- C: Kelly Olynyk-Isaiah Stewart
This bench unit gives the Pistons more scoring, but I still think they’d have a hard time getting buckets, which is why it may be better to switch Beef Stew and Olynyk.
Look, fans get too caught up in these starting lineups, and what ultimately matters is who plays most and who finishes games, but it’s clear that coach Casey is going to have a lot more flexibility and options this season.
Frank Jackson is a nice story, and his hard work and electric hair have made him a fan favorite, so let’s hope he can grab a bigger role this season whether it is as a starter (unlikely) or off the bench.