Detroit Pistons depth chart when Jerami Grant and Kelly Olynyk return

Kelly Olynyk #13 of the Detroit Pistons passes to Jerami Grant . (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
Kelly Olynyk #13 of the Detroit Pistons passes to Jerami Grant . (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /
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The Detroit Pistons finally got some good news on the injury front, as both Jerami Grant and Kelly Olynyk were removed from the injury report and should be ready to go soon.

We’ll have to wait to see if that means tonight against the New Orleans Pelicans, but the Pistons are going to have to do some shuffling of the depth chart soon.

Jerami Grant has been the subject of myriad trade rumors, and the young Pistons have done some things well in his absence.

If he’s going to be part of the long-term future of this team, he needs to adjust his game to better complement Cade Cunningham, as Grant was guilty of playing too much isolation ball earlier in the season and Detroit’s offense has been better without him.

Related Story. Jerami Grant trade rumor recap. light

Olynyk will be a welcome addition, as the Pistons lack big man depth and need some more shooting, which he will hopefully provide.

But what will the Detroit Pistons’ depth chart look like with the team finally back to full strength?

Detroit Pistons’ depth chart with Jerami Grant and Kelly Olynyk

The Pistons will have a slightly different starting five and may decide to shuffle some positions around as well.

  • Cory Joseph/Killian Hayes
  • Cade Cunningham/Frank Jackson
  • Jerami Grant/Hamidou Diallo
  • Saddiq Bey/Kelly Olynyk
  • Isaiah Stewart/Trey Lyles

This should be the 10-man group moving forward, with some positional changes that make sense.

First, Saddiq Bey should stay at power forward, as this is a more natural position for him and takes better advantage of his strength and ability to stretch the floor.

Grant is better equipped to defend wings, so should be moved to small forward, a position where his length will be more of a weapon defensively.

Killian Hayes will continue to come off the bench so that he can get minutes as the primary ball handler.

Olynyk will be moved to the backup four, which is a better spot for him anyway, and will allow Trey Lyles to stay at center, where he has actually been very good coming off the bench.

Lyles cannot stay in front of power forwards or guard the perimeter at all, so he is best suited for the backup five role, especially since Olynyk has played a lot of his career at the four.

Josh Jackson (who is out with injury right now anyway) and Rodney McGruder will be the two that get dropped from the rotation. Jackson is probably near the end of his time in Detroit, as he is on an expiring deal and hasn’t made the leap this season that many hoped he would.

McGruder has played well off the bench and may still see minutes, especially as Grant and Olynyk get up to speed.

It will be nice to have the Detroit Pistons back to full strength for the first time in months, but things have changed since Grant and Olynyk went out and they are going to have to adjust to different roles.

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