After the additions of Cade Cunningham, Kelly Olynyk and potentially two more draft picks, the Detroit Pistons are going to have a lot of lineup options.
If I had to guess the opening night starting five, it would probably look something like this:
- PG: Killian Hayes
- SG: Cade Cunningham
- SF: Saddiq Bey
- PF: Jerami Grant
- C: Kelly Olynyk
This seems like the most likely combination, but the truth is that it doesn’t really matter because Dwane Casey is going to be experimenting all season.
Regardless of who starts, we are going to see many different combinations of players in different matchups and situations and there are some exciting possibilities.
Here are four groups I’d love to see at some point this season. These are not starting lineups, but groups that would be used in specific situations.
Detroit Pistons lineups: Small Ball
Cade Cunningham’s size and ability to defend 1-4 on the court will give Dwane Casey a big advantage if he wants to go small.
Cunningham might be better suited defending wings at times and the Pistons can use that to go small and try to run other teams off the floor on the other end.
I don’t think coach Casey will use these 3-guard lineups much, but it is something he has experimented with already with mixed results.
- PG: Saben Lee
- SG: Killian Hayes
- SF: Cade Cunningham
- PF: Saddiq Bey
- C: Isaiah Stewart
This is the youngest team the Detroit Pistons can run out there and one that should be able to get up and down the floor, create plays and get into the lane.
There could be issues with spacing, as neither Lee or Hayes are very good shooters, but with three playmakers there would be ample opportunity in transition and the pick-and-roll.
Casey will have to pick his spots with this group, as they have some interesting potential but also some big flaws.