Detroit Pistons: 2 players who could fall out of the rotation
Detroit Pistons: Three ball-handlers sit ahead of Cory Joseph on the depth chart
When Cory Joseph was brought to Detroit via midseason trade with the Sacramento Kings, he took charge as the team’s point guard.
Joseph scored 12 points per game and dished out 5.5 assists per game in his 19 games played with Detroit. Of those 19 games, Joseph was the starter in 11.
The point guard played so well for the Detroit Pistons that Weaver brought him back on a cheaper contract after the team cut him to save salary. Joseph is the veteran in a young point guard room.
But it is unlikely Joseph will see a repeat of his 26.4 minutes per game as he had last season with the Pistons.
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Cunningham and Hayes are slated to start together in Detroit’s backcourt. But Casey is also likely to split the pair up throughout the course of the game. This would maximize the playmaking abilities of both players. Cunningham and Hayes are likely to fill the majority of game time as Detroit’s point guard. Saben Lee is set to fill the remaining point guard minutes left when Cunningham and Hayes are not on the court.
It will be hard for Casey to find minutes for Joseph in Detroit’s rotation. There is no reason to force a fourth point guard into a rotation that already has three very capable lead ball-handlers. Joseph would be best served in a mentor and injury replacement option for Detroit.
Joseph will mainly be tasked with helping Cunningham, Killian Hayes and Saben Lee continue developing and adapting to the NBA. Each young point guard will go through his individual growing pains, and Joseph will be the steadying force Casey can turn to during these moments.