The Detroit Pistons will go into next season with as much continuity as almost any team in the Eastern Conference, as the bulk of their roster is the same, but they do have a big question at the back end of the rotation.
The Pistons did swap out some role players, but Duncan Robinson and Caris LeVert are plug-and-play veterans, and in the case of LeVert, one who is familiar with coach JB Bickerstaff after playing well for him in the past.
The Pistons also have the return of Jaden Ivey to contend with, as he and Ausar Thompson saw scant time together after suffering overlapping injuries, but for this is a team that is well familiar with each other at this point.
Detroit has a solid 9-man rotation that is set for now, though Malik Beasley’s possible return still hangs as a possibility. The only real question is which of several candidates will seize some minutes at the back end of the rotation.
Detroit Pistons rotation: Not much left for anyone outside the top nine
Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris and Jalen Duren are the projected starting lineup for the Pistons, with Isaiah Stewart, Duncan Robinson, Caris LeVert and Ron Holland II coming off the bench.
Barring injuries or late additions, these are the nine players who will get the bulk of the minutes for the Pistons next season.
Paul Reed will continue in his role as emergency backup center in case of injury or foul trouble, but the rest of the fringe minutes are a mystery that will be solved in training camp.
Marcus Sasser is the fan-favorite for this role, but he’ll have competition, and I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see veteran Javonte Green eat up whatever minutes are available.
You also have rookie Chaz Lanier who may be ready for rotation minutes at some point and second-year player Bobi Klintman, so they have no shortage of options but no clear standout.
We’ll get some indication of where the Pistons stand at the end of October, which is the deadline to pick up Sasser’s team option for the final year of his contract. Unless Sasser really impresses in training camp and preseason, it’s hard to see the Pistons exercising that option, considering it jumps up to $5 million, a situation worth monitoring.
If the Pistons don’t pick up Sasser’s option, we could see him moved in a trade at some point.
Despite the Beasley saga, the Pistons have had a relatively quiet offseason, so their only real burning question heading into training camp is how the last spot in the rotation is going to shake out, which is a good place to be for a team with playoff aspirations.