JB Bickerstaff said he was very pleased with his depth going into next season but knows it will force some tough calls when it comes to the Detroit Pistons’ depth chart.
Coach Bickerstaff spoke to a pool of reporters during a recent practice and talked about a “competitive” camp where everyone was playing at a “high level,’ adding, “there’s not one guy out here I can tell you doesn’t deserve to play.”
There has been plenty of talk about the Pistons’ depth after losing Malik Beasley, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Dennis Schroder from last season’s playoff campaign, but there is hope the Pistons found adequate replacements in Duncan Robinson and Caris LeVert, who offer more versatility.
The Pistons also have young players ready to step into bigger roles in Ron Holland and Marcus Sasser, as well as fringe guys hoping to crack the rotation in Bobi Klintman and rookie Chaz Lanier. Even 3rd-string center BBall Paul Reed made his case for more minutes after a solid showing in the playoffs.
With the top nine of the rotation more or less set, JB Bickerstaff will have to find ways to get other players involved and keep them sharp, particularly Marcus Sasser.
Detroit Pistons depth chart: Marcus Sasser is ready for a bigger role
I praised Sasser all last season for his ability to stay sharp even though he wasn’t a regular in the rotation. He put up solid shooting splits and showed the ability to create his own shot and knock it down.
With minutes available at the backup point guard spot, it may come down to whether Sasser can create and defend enough to be a viable option when Cade Cunningham is on the bench.
We know Sasser can score in bunches, and that the Pistons need to make up the 16 ppg they lost when they couldn’t re-sign Malik Beasley. Even if Sasser doesn’t suddenly morph into a point guard, he may be able to play off ball with a guy like LeVert, which was luxury he didn’t often enjoy last season.
There are other reasons the Pistons should try and showcase Sasser more this season. They have to make a decision on his team option by the end of October and will likely decline it, meaning Sasser is playing for his next job and that might not be with the Pistons.
It’s easy to envision Sasser as part of a trade, either as a sweetener or the Pistons just trying to add some extra picks. Sasser can help the Pistons but also showcase himself to the rest of the league if they don’t see him as part of the long-term plans.
JB Bickerstaff needs to broaden his rotation to see if he can find lightning in a bottle with a player like Sasser or Lanier, as cheap contributors are crucial to team building in the tax era.