Detroit Pistons: Best and worst-case scenarios for the guards
The Detroit Pistons will open preseason tonight against the New York Knicks and the excitement around the team is palpable.
This is especially true in the guard ranks, where the Pistons are hoping they have their next All-Star backcourt in Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey.
Guard is probably the strongest position for Detroit, so they will really only go as far as their group carries them. They will need their guards (especially the young guys) to play to the best of their ability, but there is obviously a best and worst-case scenario for each guy.
We looked at the best case/worst case for the centers, as well as the forwards, so now it is time to take a look at the most important positional group for Detroit, the guards.
Related Story. Best and worst-case scenarios for the Pistons' centers. light
Best and worst-case scenarios for the Detroit Pistons’ guards
Kemba Walker
Best-case scenario
The Walker situation still hasn’t been resolved, so the best case for him is that he is either released or traded to a contending team. The Pistons only have until the middle of October to buy out Walker or trade him so the clock is ticking as Troy Weaver tries to find a taker.
Worst-case scenario
The John Wall situation. If Detroit doesn’t want to buy Walker out and he refuses to show up (which he has) then he could be sitting on their bench in street clothes for part of all of the season, which would not be good for him or Detroit.
Rodney McGruder
Best-case scenario
The best case is that McGruder is a “Break glass in case of emergency” guy who never plays but offers solid veteran leadership off the bench.
Worst-case scenario
The worst case is that Detroit has enough injuries or ineffective players that McGruder has to appear in 51 games as he did last season.
Cory Joseph
Best-case scenario
The best case for CoJo is that he gets minutes early in the season with Alec Burks out and shoots the lights out, making himself into a nice trade asset at the deadline. He is on an expiring deal so is one of the players I do not expect to be in Detroit by the end of the season.
Worst-case scenario
The worst case is that Joseph’s 40 percent 3-point shooting last season was a mirage, he gets minutes early but isn’t very good playing off the ball. He lingers on the bench until the trade deadline and no on wants him so he walks at the end of the season for nothing.