The Detroit Pistons head into the final 24 games of the 2021-22 season with the second-worst record in the NBA.
Their strength of schedule vs. the other tankers is pretty favorable for their draft position, so the odds are high that Detroit will end up in the bottom three and maximize their chances for a number one pick.
The Pistons had a ton of question marks coming into this season as a young rebuilding team, and while some of them have been answered, new ones have surfaced in their place.
I think the biggest question “Can Detroit build around Cade Cunningham?” has been answered, as he has shown himself to be a guy who can thrive on both ends and elevate his teammates.
While his rookie season has been bumpy at times, it appears the Pistons got their guy, though I would love to see him finish the season healthy and consistent.
Still, many questions remain, and the Pistons don’t have long to answer them before the offseason and presumably some big roster changes.
Questions for the remainder of the Detroit Pistons’ season
#1: Is Isaiah Stewart an NBA starting center?
Coming into this season, fans were excited about Beef Stew, who was coming off a solid rookie campaign that landed him a spot on the second-team All Rookie squad.
While he has played well lately, Stewart has shown big weaknesses all season that have some wondering if he would be better served as a backup big and not the primary guy.
His offense has taken a step back, as he has not developed a jumper or added range to his shot. In fact, his shooting percentages have gotten worse across the board. Remember when we were all calling for Stewart to shoot more 3-point shots?
No one is asking for that now, as he has shot just 12.5 percent on limited attempts. He hasn’t gotten better in the pick-and-roll, and is practically useless in the short roll, as he doesn’t go hard to the rim or have the passing skills to make plays out of it. This has been a big detriment to Cunningham and Killian Hayes, who have worked most of the season without a reliable big man in the PnR.
Stewart has been piling up double-doubles over the last few weeks and has shown some life, but he will need big improvements if he is going to be the Pistons’ starting center moving forward.
I think all options are on the table when it comes to bigs this offseason and that Detroit clearly needs an upgrade. I’m not saying Beef Stew can’t get there, but right now, he is not an NBA starting center.
Questions for the remainder of the Detroit Pistons’ season
#2: Where does Killian Hayes fit on this team?
One of the biggest questions coming into this season was how Killian Hayes and Cade Cunningham would fit.
There have been things to like about the fit at times. Cunningham and Hayes can be smothering on the perimeter defensively, and having two playmakers on the floor has worked at times for the Pistons.
But there are other times when Killian Hayes has just stood in the corner and offered next to nothing to the offense.
His move to the bench has benefitted Killian somewhat, but he is still very inconsistent from night to night, not just in his shooting accuracy but his willingness to engage aggressively.
I still think the Pistons don’t have much choice but to be patient with Hayes, but it is clear at this point that he and Cunningham might not be the best fit.
Is Hayes going to be the primary backup point guard for Detroit? Will the Pistons consider moving on from him in the offseason or do they still think he’s part of the core?
These questions probably won’t be answered in the next 24 games, but it would be nice to see Killian thrive off the bench so there is a clearer idea of what his role will look like in the future.
Questions for the remainder of the Detroit Pistons’ season
#3: Does Marvin Bagley III have a future with the Detroit Pistons?
The Pistons tried to address their big man problem before the trade deadline by taking a flyer on Marvin Bagley III.
I think this was a worthwhile risk, as they only gave up second-round picks, which were late in the draft and unlikely to yield NBA rotation players.
Bagley has at least shown he can be that, so has more value than theoretical G-League players.
However, whether or not he is in Detroit beyond this season is still anyone’s guess. I would say the Pistons would not have traded for Bagley III if they didn’t see a role for him moving forward, but it will likely come down to how he plays over these 24 games and what his next contract looks like.
If Bagley III is willing to sign a team-friendly deal in an effort to rebuild his value, Detroit is a good place to do it, as there are minutes at center to be had and the team is still rebuilding.
But if Bagley III doesn’t show much over these games or some other teams get involved in a bidding war for the restricted free agent (unlikely), then Detroit should be prepared to walk away rather than overpay for a guy who has been a disappointment so far in his young career.
He has a 24-game tryout for the Detroit Pistons, and even though they gave up some minor assets to get him, there is no guarantee that Bagley III will be back.
Questions for the remainder of the Detroit Pistons’ season
#4: Is Jerami Grant part of the long-term plans for the Detroit Pistons?
This question has been hanging over Detroit for the entire season, as Grant will be headed into the final year of his contract and there are some concerns about his fit with Cade Cunningham.
We haven’t seen enough to know if this is going to work, but there have been signs that Grant is willing to adjust his game to better fit with Detroit’s young star.
Grant seemingly wants to be in Detroit, which is good, but if the main reason he wants to be here is so that he can be the number one option, well, it might be time to end this relationship.
I don’t know if 24 games will be enough to accurately evaluate Grant’s fit, but I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that these games are the most important of his career from a contract standpoint.
If Grant shows himself to be a valuable veteran who can fit in with the Pistons’ young core, then he might be worth a four year extension.
If not, then the Pistons absolutely have to trade him in the offseason so that they can head into next year without the trade questions lingering over the team.
Detroit will be reluctant to trade Grant for a small haul, but extending him if it is not working out would be the far worse crime in my opinion.
Questions for the remainder of the Detroit Pistons’ season
#5: What is the Detroit Pistons’ biggest offseason need?
This is going to be Troy Weaver’s most important offseason, as fans in Detroit are getting sick of the rebuild talk and want to see some wins.
The patience that we have shown over the last few years will quickly evaporate next season, when fans will expect this team to take the next logical step towards sustained success.
Aside from the future of Jerami Grant, the biggest issue will be identifying this team’s weaknesses and fixing them.
If you asked most fans what the team’s biggest weakness is, you’d probably get two answers: Big man depth and shooting.
Detroit clearly needs a bouncy big who can run the pick-and-roll to pair with Cunningham, as his passing talents are being wasted having no one to lob to the ball to. We saw him thrive with Evan Mobley and though it is unlikely the Pistons add a guy of his talent, he is the mold they should be looking for.
The Detroit Pistons also need shooting desperately, as they are one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the league and have a coach whose offense is designed to get open 3-point shots. The offense often works, but they lack the personnel to execute.
I’d say another starting caliber guard has to be near the top of the list as well, as Cade Cunningham needs more talent around him in the backcourt.
Detroit has 24 games to identify their biggest weaknesses and start building a strategy for how to strengthen them.