Coming into the offseason, forward was by far the weakest position for the Detroit Pistons.
They somewhat remedied that by trading for Bojan Bogdanovic, which cleared some of the clutter in the center ranks and added a legit shooting threat at forward.
Even after the trade, a quick look at a possible Pistons’ depth chart shows that they are still thin on two-way forwards, which many analysts believe is is the most important position in the modern NBA.
But the Pistons have a few players who may surprise casual fans, but they also have some guys who could crash and burn in the worst-case scenario.
Recently we looked at the best and worst-case scenarios for the centers, and now it’s time for the forwards.
Detroit Pistons: Best and worst-case scenarios for the forwards
Kevin Knox
Best-case scenario
Kevin Knox signed a two-year deal with the Detroit Pistons this offseason and will have a hard time cracking the rotation. The best-case scenario for Knox is that he does, and the only way that is going to happen is if he consistently hits shots from long range. Knox did shoot 39 percent from 3-point range in one season for the Knicks, but has barely played since. Best case is that he regains that form and beats out guys like Hamidou Diallo for minutes.
Worst-case scenario
Worst-case is that Knox is a complete waste of a roster spot. He barely plays this season and gets cut in the offseason since his deal is not fully guaranteed. The Pistons are hoping they have a quality rehab project, but there is a good chance he never plays.
Hamidou Diallo
Best-case scenario
The best-case for Hamidou Diallo is that he is the backup small forward behind Saddiq Bey and plays 25 minutes a game. In this scenario, Diallo shoots a respectable percentage from 3-point range, becomes a force in transition and is in the top-10 in the NBA in steals. He morphs into a quality NBA rotation player and one of Detroit’s best defenders, which makes them want to re-sign him after the season to be a key part of their bench.
Worst-case scenario
Diallo hasn’t improved at all offensively and still gets lost on defensive rotations in the half court. He gets beat out for minutes by Isaiah Livers and Kevin Knox and the Pistons are forced to trade him for a second-round pick before the deadline. This is a make-or-break season for Diallo in Detroit, as he is on an expiring deal and will have to earn his way into being part of the long-term plans.
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.
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.
Detroit Pistons: Best and worst-case scenarios for the forwards
Saddiq Bey
Best-case scenario
Saddiq Bey is arguably the third-most important member of the Detroit Pistons right now, and for them to truly make a leap as a team, Bey will have to make one as well. The best case for him is that he just becomes a lot more consistent at the things he already does well. He continues to shoot high volume from long range, but knocks down 40 percent of them. Bey thrives at both forward spots on either end and morphs into a Ron Artest-type player who can defend the other team’s best forward, score 20+ points per game and play all 82 games like he did last season.
Worst-case scenario
Bey is a hard worker, so it’s difficult to see any scenario where he gets worse next season, so the worst-case is that he doesn’t get much better. It would be a big disappointment if Bey shot under 40 percent from the field again next season, or didn’t get closer to 40 percent from long range. We know he is going to be an Iron Man who gives the Pistons everything he has, but in the worst-case scenario he just spins his wheels and doesn’t get any more efficient on offense.