Detroit Pistons: Projecting 3 situational lineups for 2021-22

Detroit Pistons defensive lineup: Killian Hayes, Hamidou Diallo, Cade Cunningham, Jerami Grant, Saddiq Bey

The Pistons have always been a team built on great defense. Whether it’s the ‘Bad Boys’ or the ‘Goin to Work’ crew, Detroit has built its championship rosters on strong imposing defenses. As Weaver continues the restoration of his Pistons roster, building up one of the league’s best defenses will be a priority in the coming seasons.

Hayes may have his struggles with shooting efficiency and finishing at the rim, but the young 20-year-old has already shown great promise on the defensive end of the floor.

As an on-ball defender, the point guard has shown to be an aggressive and hounding defender. Hayes’ on-ball defense is very in your face and comes with a relentless attitude. The 20-year-old’s relentlessly aggressive defensive nature will make him the prime option to place on the opponent’s top-scoring options.

He may not be a shutdown defender, but he will be a genuine nuisance for any player he matches up against. Off-ball, Hayes can use his long wingspan to disrupt passing lanes and poke the ball free.

Diallo may not have been one of Detroit’s top defenders last season, but the 23-year-old wing has the athleticism necessary to be a great defender in the NBA. This may be a bit of projection, but it should come as no surprise if Diallo develops into one of the league’s more underrated defenders next season.

Cunningham’s versatility comes into play here. The 6-8 point guard has enough size to play anywhere between the one and three spots on the floor. In this lineup, Cunningham would be moving into the small forward position.

Like Hayes, Cunningham can utilize his length to intercept and tip passes. Next season he would be best utilized as an off-ball defender. As the 19-year-old inevitably goes through the growing pains of a young rookie in the NBA, he could be switched out of this lineup in favor of more proven defensive commodities. Josh Jackson or Saddiq Bey could see minutes in this lineup if Cunningham has too many defensive lapses to make him a reliable option in this lineup.

Grant is going to be a consistent defender for Detroit next season. The 27-year-old has built his career primarily as a defensive wing before he came to Detroit. Like Cunningham, Grant should not be taking on a heavy defensive load for the Pistons. He and Cunningham are too valuable on offense to be expending too much energy on the defensive end of the court.

But Grant is a good defensive player in the NBA. He can hold his own against most power forwards in the league. While he should not be too heavily relied upon on defense, Grant will still make a positive impact on his team’s defense.

Stewart was Detroit’s best defender last season. The undersized big man led the team in blocks with 86 through 68 games. He was tied with Plumlee for the team lead in defensive rating (109) and defensive win shares (2.1).

The 20-year-old should be the defensive anchor for the Detroit Pistons for years to come. He is a young developing rim protector who has switchability. Stewart is versatile and athletic enough to switch out to the perimeter and hold his own against quick and agile guards and wings.

As Stewart’s career progresses, he will have expectations of All-Defensive team honors and potential Defensive Player of the Year honors as well. He will be the defensive leader for this team and be the primary building block for the Pistons to develop their roster into one of the league’s best defenses.

This lineup maximizes Detroit’s defensive potential without losing too much on the offensive end. Cunningham and Grant may not be overutilized as defenders in this lineup, but they will both make positive impacts as help defenders and off-ball defenders.