Detroit Pistons final roster set after two-way signings

The Detroit Pistons tip off their 2024-25 regular season tomorrow at home against the Indiana Pacers and will do it with a shorthanded roster. 

What a surprise! 

The Pistons haven’t started the season completely healthy in years, and will have injuries to contend with right away, the most important being Ausar Thompson, who still hasn’t been cleared after suffering blood clots last season. 

The Pistons will rely on a tight rotation early, as the first six games are brutal, so we’re likely to see JB Bickerstaff lean on his veterans and try to establish roles right away. 

Yesterday was the final day for many player extensions and was also the day teams had to submit their final rosters to the league. 

After signing Cole Swider to a two-way deal (you can read more about him here) and possibly signing Alondes Williams (we’re still waiting for confirmation as he is not listed on the opening night roster) it appears as though the Pistons will carry one open roster spot and around $10 million in cap space into the season. 

Detroit Pistons final roster is set 

According to NBA Communications, here is the Pistons’ opening night roster, which does not yet include two-way signing Alondes Williams: 

The Pistons will start the season with just 12 full-time active players: 

-Malik Beasley 

-Cade Cunningham 

-Jalen Duren 

-Simone Fontecchio 

-Tim Hardaway Jr. 

-Tobias Harris 

-Ron Holland II 

-Jaden Ivey 

-Wendell Moore Jr. 

-Paul Reed 

-Marcus Sasser 

-Isaiah Stewart 

Daniss Jenkins and Cole Swider are listed as two-way contracts for now and both Ausar Thompson and Bobi Klintman will begin the season on the inactive list. 

This leaves the Pistons with less depth on the wing, which means we are certain to see more of rookie Ron Holland II than we might have if Thompson were active. 

There will also be more pressure on Simone Fontecchio and Tim Hardaway Jr. who are both going to have to hit shots for the Pistons to create space when they are on the floor. 

It would have been nice to start the season without a major hit to the rotation, but the Pistons have to carry on, as there is no timetable for Thompson. We don’t want to get into the worst-case scenarios with him yet, as there is little information available, but Bickerstaff is going to have to do some shuffling right away. 

Even without Thompson, the Pistons will start the season with a deeper and more talented rotation than they had at any point last season.