Best and worst-case scenarios for the Pistons’ forwards
Detroit Pistons: Best and worst-case scenarios for the forwards
Isaiah Livers
Best-case scenario
The best case for Isaiah Livers is that he gets rotation minutes right away and makes the most of them, getting run at both forward spots. In this scenario, Livers is an indispensable glue guy, who acts as a connector and 3-point specialist on offense and makes plays all over the court on defense.
As the team starts noticing that all of their best lineups have Livers in them, he is either moved into the starting five or becomes a super sub who plays with everyone and is top-5 on the team in minutes. He hits over 40 percent of his 3-point shots and is a guy who takes on the tough defensive assignments on the perimeter and in the post.
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Worst-case scenario
The worst-case is that Livers can’t defend well enough to stay on the court, as he is too slow to cover small forwards and too small to guard power forwards. He only plays about 15 minutes a game, and while he still hits a good percentage from 3-point range, doesn’t get enough shots for it to matter. I really can’t see this happening, and I do think Livers might end up being the forward who is closest to his best-case scenario.
Bojan Bogdanovic
Best-case scenario
The best case for Bojan Bogdanovic is that he is the missing piece to the Detroit Pistons’ offense and helps turn them from cellar dweller into playoff contender. He shoots over 40 percent from long-range and is a menace in the pick-and-roll with Cade Cunningham, which helps the second-year guard make a big leap.
Bogdanovic holds down the starting power forward position, allowing Isaiah Stewart and Marvin Bagley III to mercifully never have to get minutes there, scores 18-20 points per game and re-signs with the Pistons at the end of the season to help accelerate their restoration.
Worst-case scenario
Bogdanovic has lost a step and his age is starting to show. His 3-point numbers go down and he starts to force bad two-point shots. The Pistons stink again and decide to move him before the trade deadline only to find there isn’t much market for him, so they have to settle for a worse package than the one they sent to Utah. I can’t see this happening either, as Bogdanovic has been one of the most reliable players in the league in his career.