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.
Detroit Pistons lineups: The shooters
The Detroit Pistons were one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the NBA last season, something they hope will improve with the additions of Cade Cunningham and Kelly Olynyk.
But they did already have three good 3-point shooters in Saddiq Bey, Jerami Grant and Frank Jackson, who may earn his way into the starting five at some point.
This group will likely see some action in situations where the Detroit Pistons need a bucket.
- PG: Cade Cunningham
- SG: Frank Jackson
- SF: Saddiq Bey
- PF: Jerami Grant
- C: Kelly Olynyk
There is a lot to like about this group offensively, as there are four shooters around Cunningham, which would give him space to operate, draw double teams and create open shots for himself and his teammates.
This season the Pistons should have more players who can knock them down, and there isn’t really anyone you can help off in this lineup.
There is still enough defense with Grant, Bey and Cunningham flying around and there would be a lot of pick-and-roll opportunity with Olynyk.
This group would likely create a lot of wide-open shots for Bey and Jackson, who have shown they can make them.
Detroit Pistons lineups: Spreading the floor for Killian Hayes
Killian Hayes still needs to work on his shot, but he has shown the ability to get into the lane and set up teammates if he has the space to operate.
I would like to see Hayes be more aggressive in these situations, as it will open the Pistons’ offense up and make things tougher on defenses, who currently just sag off Hayes and dare him to shoot.
That’s why I like a bench unit with Hayes and a bunch of shooters.
- PG: Killian Hayes
- SG: Frank Jackson
- SF: Isaiah Livers
- PF: Kelly Olynyk
- C: Frank Garza
Ok, so immediately there are some problems defensively with Olynyk and Garza on the floor at the same time.
This one would be matchup dependent, as this group lacks speed, but Livers can hopefully fly around on defense and be the 3-and-D component of this group.
The Pistons could play four out and let Hayes go to work. Teams would be forced to respect the 3-point shooting of the bigs which would open up space in the paint by drawing defenders away.
Groups like this rely on better finishing from Hayes, as this would only work if he can take advantage of the space Olynyk and Garza’s shooting can create.
Detroit Pistons lineups: Defend and run
Summer League has revealed the way that Sekou Doumbouya can earn minutes, which is by playing defense.
Doumbouya has looked quicker and more dialed in defensively so far this offseason, and it has paid off, as his blocked shots have led to several run outs on the other end.
Cade Cunningham is going to help Sekou and others if they run the floor hard, as he has elite court vision and will find teammates in transition.
That is why I like a lineup of good defenders who can run like this:
- PG: Cade Cunningham
- SG: Hamidou Diallo
- SF: Josh Jackson
- PF: Sekou Doumbouya
- C: Isaiah Stewart
So the most obvious problem with this group is that there isn’t enough shooting, as both Jackson and Diallo have struggled from long range, but I love the defensive potential.
This is an extremely long group that can switch on just about anyone. This is also one of the Pistons’ most athletic groupings, which could lead to a lot of blocked shots, steals and run outs for easy buckets.
If one of Jackson or Diallo can just improve their shooting, I actually really like them as a bench pairing, as they are two of the Pistons’ best defenders.
Dwane Casey is going to have a lot of options this season and it’s going to be interesting watching him try to piece it all together.