Detroit Pistons: Jalen Duren will determine Kelly Olynyk’s fate

Detroit Pistons: Jalen Duren starts in the G-League

If Duren doesn’t look ready in training camp, which is the most likely scenario, he could start the season in the G-League to ensure he is getting max minutes and not just sitting on the bench.

If you look at the Pistons’ depth chart after the acquisition of Nerlens Noel and Alec Burks, it’s hard to see how Duren gets minutes right away.

The Pistons need shooting, and Kelly Olynyk is one of the better shooters on the team, so it’s far more likely that he is eating up most of those bench minutes.

Most teams don’t go with more than four bigs in the rotation, and we know that Isaiah Stewart, Marvin Bagley III and Nerlens Noel are going to be three of them.

Olynyk was injured for much of last season and never really got a chance to get going, as he got COVID not long after returning from his injury.

We never really got to see what he could do with a guy like Killian Hayes, who would benefit from having a big on the floor who can shoot and space the offense.

That could leave Duren as the odd man out, which is fine, as he could play big minutes with the G-League team and then join the Pistons later in the season. Olynyk is on an expiring deal, so it makes sense to wait and trade him at the deadline, which would open up a spot for Duren.

But there is another, less-likely scenario.