The Detroit Pistons have had a big offseason so far even though it wasn’t the one many fans wanted. They landed one of the best coaches available, look to have gotten at least one very good player in the NBA Draft and have added a couple of veterans who can shoot.
The trades for Joe Harris and Monte Morris weren’t the splashy moves fans were hoping for, but Detroit may not be done dealing yet, as they still have a glut of big men and there will undoubtedly be more moves around the NBA once the big trades for Damian Lillard and James Harden are completed.
Detroit could get involved in one of these trades as a third team or make a low-level trade that moves one of their big men for a more complementary piece or future (albeit paltry) draft compensation.
But as of right now, the starting five may already be set, though even that is debatable, and everything else is up in the air, with guards and centers fighting it out for spots in the rotation. There are really only eight players who are guaranteed to be in the rotation as of now.
The locks for the Detroit Pistons rotation so far
If you look at the Pistons’ roster as it stands right now, there are only eight players at most who are guaranteed to see rotation minutes next season:
- Cade Cunningham
- Jaden Ivey
The starting backcourt is a no-brainer.
- Bojan Bogdanovic
- Isaiah Stewart
- Jalen Duren
These five players are probably your opening night starting lineup, but even if Stewart comes off the bench, he is going to be a big part of the rotation. In my opinion, Jalen Duren is the only center who is guaranteed to get minutes, as Marvin Bagley III and James Wiseman will be competing to be his backup.
- Ausar Thompson
- Alec Burks
- Monte Morris
If Thompson doesn’t start right away, he’ll probably be one of the first guys off the bench and will likely find his way into the starting five by the end of the season. Burks and Morris, the two veteran guards, will definitely be in the rotation as steady hands who can provide shooting.
Depending on how many players Monty Williams uses, that only leaves one or two rotation spots open for Killian Hayes, Marcus Sasser, James Wiseman, Marvin Bagley III, Isaiah Livers and Joe Harris to compete for, which is going to lead to an interesting training camp if the Pistons don’t make additional moves.