Detroit Pistons: “Someone is going to have to space the floor.”
The Detroit Pistons are trying some things out in Summer League, the most important of which is in the front court.
Both Isaiah Stewart and Jalen Duren started in the 1st game, something fans have been talking about for the entire offseason.
The Pistons have a glut of big men, so the big question is how do they fit, as only one, Kelly Olynyk is really considered a shooter.
That may be about to change, as Isaiah Stewart is dedicating himself to improving his 3-point shot and recently showed that he understands the assignment. He got off to a strong start in Summer League, hitting 3-of-4 from behind the arc.
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In a chat with James Edwards III from The Athletic, Beef Stew showed that he understands what this team needs of him and how he is most likely to get big minutes now that the Detroit Pistons have five guys who can play center:
Loved this quote Beef Stew gave me when I asked about playing the 4, very self-aware: “We’ve added two or three bigs. With how we want to play with two bigs, someone is going to have to space the floor. I want to get reps.” https://t.co/jYaiERMSSJ
— James L. Edwards III (@JLEdwardsIII) July 8, 2022
Stewart is right, as none of their big men other than Kelly Olynyk (who is more of a power forward) can shoot, which is something that has plagued the Detroit Pistons over the last few seasons.
Can Isaiah Stewart be a floor spacer for the Detroit Pistons?
Here is a not-so-short list of guys on the Detroit Pistons who cannot shoot the 3-ball:
- Killian Hayes
- Marvin Bagley III
- Hamidou Diallo
- Saben Lee
- Jalen Duren
- Nerlens Noel
- Isaiah Stewart (pending)
That’s a big chunk of the depth chart, and these guys haven’t just been mediocre as 3-point shooters, they’ve either been terrible or don’t do it at all.
That leaves just Cade Cunningham, Saddiq Bey, Jaden Ivey (pending), Kelly Olynyk, Alec Burks and Isaiah Livers as guys who can reliably knock down a 3-point shot, and both Cade and Saddiq were below league average in accuracy last season. If we’re being honest, only Bey, Burks and Olynyk have really proven they can do it over an entire NBA season.
This team desperately needs someone who can shoot, as they can’t aren’t usually going to have more than two or three shooters on the floor at the same time, a problem that could be benefitted greatly by Stewart stepping up in that area.
Beef Stew is showing that he understands what his team needs of him, and though I still expect him to play most of his time at the five, having another big who can knock down shots would be a big help.
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