Detroit Pistons: Predicting stats for every player on the roster

Detroit Pistons: Predicting stats for the bench players

Cory Joseph: 5 points/3 assists/2 rebounds

I am hoping that Cory Joseph does not play close to the 26 minutes per game he got last season with the Detroit Pistons, who were struggling with injuries down the stretch.

Joseph is a good veteran backup but Saben Lee is the future at the backup point guard and will hopefully get some of those minutes this season. I don’t expect Joseph to play as much but Casey may lean on him early in the season in which case these numbers could go up.

If Joseph plays well enough, expect him to be in low-level trade rumors at the deadline and possibly not finish the season in Detroit.

Frank Jackson: 11.5 points/2.5 rebounds/1 assist

I think Jackson will make a mini-leap this season and be one of the Pistons’ key bench scorers. There are some scenarios in which he makes sense in the starting lineup, as he would add another plus shooter next to Cade Cunningham and I am sure the two will play plenty of time together in the backcourt either way.

Jackson is one of the X-Factors for the Pistons this season, as if he continues to build off his 40 percent 3-point shooting from last year he could earn more minutes and put up even bigger numbers. Could he be a 15+ ppg scorer?

Josh Jackson: 9 points/3.5 rebounds/1.5 assists

Jackson is a guy I see taking a small step back this season after he loses some of his minutes to Hamidou Diallo and Frank Jackson. It’s going to be tough to have both Jackson and Diallo in the lineup at the same time unless one of them becomes a more efficient shooter. Diallo has shown the most promise in that regard and I expect that an increase in stats for him will come at the expense of some of Jackson’s.

I really like Jackson and his love of Detroit, so I am cheering for him to have a breakout season, shoot more efficiently and stay with the team, but if that doesn’t happen, expect him to be traded at some point.

Hamidou Diallo: 12.5 points/6.5 rebounds/2 assists

I think Diallo will be given every chance to get minutes this season, as the Pistons just re-signed him and Troy Weaver is one of his biggest fans. If he plays well as the start of the season, he could break into the starting lineup at some point, as he is already a very good defender who can rebound and run the floor.

If Diallo shoots anywhere near 39 percent from 3-point range as he did last season, expect him to get more minutes than Jackson and for his numbers to tick up from last season. Diallo has made incremental improvement every season and I expect him to make another mini-leap this year.

Kelly Olynyk: 16 points/7 rebounds/3.5 assists

Kelly Olynyk may very well be the starter when the games get going for real, but even if he is not, he is going to play starter’s minutes and be one of the Pistons’ key players.

Olynyk was amazing for Houston last season, and I could see him having a similar impact for the Pistons. His shooting is going to help the development of Cade Cunningham and Killian Hayes, who will benefit from the space he creates.

If Olynyk can hit 40 percent of his 3-point shots, which he has a couple of times in his career, then I see him having a huge season for Detroit and putting up his best numbers, as he is going to play a lot at both the four and the five and is tailor-made to thrive in an offense with two playmakers running the pick-and-roll.

Casey has also talked about Olynyk having the ball in his hands more as a playmaker from the top of the key, much like Mason Plumlee did last season, so I see his assist numbers ticking up as well, which could put him in the running for Most Improved Player if the Detroit Pistons are better as a team.