A potential Pistons depth chart and who gets left out

Possible Pistons’ depth chart

Bojan Bogdanovic was out for the first preseason game with a calf strain that isn’t expected to be serious. Isaiah Livers is expected to be out 6-8 weeks with an ankle sprain. Without Bogdanovic or Livers, the Pistons turned to Isaiah Stewart at power forward.

I love Beef Stew’s game, attitude, and approach. He’s an exceptional player who should be a core piece of the Pistons moving forward.

That said, I’m not sure he’s a starting power forward. He might be if given more opportunities. In fact, he might be the Draymond Green of the future. He’s an excellent defender who’s developing his offense, and his versatility accommodates a wide variety of teammates.

If he comes off the bench at both the four and five, he’ll showcase and develop his versatility and potential. The opportunity to fill a variety of the team’s needs would give him the opportunity to develop his game while playing against opposing bench players rather than elite power forwards who are either too fast or too big.

A potential depth chart would look something like this:

• Cade Cunningham/Killian Hayes/Monte Morris
• Jaden Ivey/Monte Morris/Joe Harris
• Ausar Thompson/Alec Burks/Joe Harris
• Bojan Bogdanovic/Isaiah Stewart/Isaiah Livers
• Jalen Duren/MB3/Isaiah Stewart

Keeping the starting five young will give the developing players opportunities. Staggering the minutes of some of the veterans across multiple positions, which appears to be the logic behind the current roster construction, will give young players mentors on the floor and opportunities to stop, rest, and think when they’re subbed out—the benefit of depth. Staggering shooters should help with floor spacing and allow players to develop alongside complementary skills.