Detroit Pistons: Positionless basketball is the future of Detroit basketball

The Detroit Pistons have added a lot of depth to their roster this offseason. In his second year at the helm, Pistons GM Troy Weaver has continued to restore this Pistons roster into one of the NBA’s premier young developing squads.

While the 2020 NBA Offseason saw Weaver and the Pistons target young talent with high upside, this offseason, shooting has been a major focus for Detroit. Weaver acquired floor stretching prospects in Isaiah Livers and Luka Garza via the draft. In free agency, the second-year GM added to Detroit’s depth by signing Kelly Olynyk and Trey Lyles.

Weaver topped off the roster by bringing back the team’s best sharpshooter in Frank Jackson and a high upside athlete in Hamidou Diallo.

This added shooting depth at all positions on the court will make Detroit’s lineups some of the most fluid in the league. By all accounts, it appears the Detroit Pistons are making a move towards positionless basketball in the near future.

Detroit Pistons: The future of the NBA is here

Weaver has coveted long, tall, athletic players thus far in his tenure with Detroit. This tendency to target lengthy athletes is shown by the team’s current roster construction. As of today, Detroit only has four players listed under 6-5. Including their two-way contracts, Detroit has 11 players listed at 6-8 or above.

The combination of size and athleticism on Detroit’s roster provides for plenty of versatility on the court.

This year’s first overall pick, Cade Cunningham, is listed as the team’s point guard. the 19-year-old is set to be Detroit’s lead ball-handler and a great perimeter shooter. But Cunningham’s 6-8 frame will allow him to play in the post on both offense and defense.

So far in his seven-year career, Jerami Grant has shown he can play anywhere from the traditional small forward position to the center spot. Grant stands at 6-8 with a nearly 7-3 wingspan. His combination of length, defensive intuition, and strength have allowed the 27-year-old to be a good defender on both the perimeter and in the post.

These are just two of the many players on Detroit’s roster who have the versatility and athleticism necessary to play at multiple positions in the NBA. It would honestly be easier to list the few players on this Pistons roster who are limited to playing just one position.

Jahlil Okafor is the first obvious example of a player limited to a single position in the league. The only other player on this short list would be Garza, for now at least. The former Iowa Hawkeye has already shown development towards a slightly more mobile player than he was in college.

With a roster so full of long, athletic players, it is time for Detroit to enter an era of positionless basketball. Head coach Dwane Casey has already alluded to Detroit having a more fluid and less defined lineup heading into next season. And the team as a whole would greatly benefit from this style of play.