The Detroit Pistons starting lineup may be set for next season

The Detroit Pistons have been relatively quiet this offseason considering they entered it with more cap space than all but one team.

So far they’ve used it to trade for Joe Harris and Monte Morris, not exactly the big-time names fans were hoping for in the offseason in which Troy Weaver has promised to build a competitive roster.

But the Pistons may not be finished making moves yet, as they still have a glut of big men, possibly an extra guard depending on how you feel about Marcus Sasser and Killian Hayes, and could still use a legit starting power forward, again, depending on how you feel about Isaiah Stewart.

The Detroit Pistons have shown faith in Stewart by rewarding him with a four-year extension, which may be a good indication of how they are leaning at the power forward spot. You probably don’t give Stew that money to be a backup, so unless the Pistons make further moves, their starting five for next season might already be set.

The Detroit Pistons starting lineup may be set for next season

Unless there are additional trades or someone gets hurt, it’s hard to see the Detroit Pistons beginning next season with a starting five other than this:

• Cade Cunningham
• Jaden Ivey
• Bojan Bogdanovic
• Isaiah Stewart
• Jalen Duren

Ausar Thompson has looked great in Summer League, and he will eventually crack this group, but it’s hard to see him coming in and supplanting a veteran like Bogdanovic, who is coming off one of the best seasons of his career and hasn’t come off the bench since his third season in the league.

I’m sure Ausar will play big minutes right away, but it appears he may have to earn them from a bench role initially unless the Pistons make another trade.

That’s not the worst thing, as it will keep pressure off Thompson, and by the end of the season, I am sure he’ll be starting.

Some fans may look at this and say “wow, it’s the same team that won 17 games with Cade Cunningham added” and they are not wrong, but Detroit is hoping that the return of Cunningham, along with defensive and 3-point shooting improvements will be enough to push this team to the next level of competition.