The Detroit Pistons are only three days away from their first preseason game and less than three weeks away from the start of the regular season, but still have uncertainties about how their roster is going to shape up.
All teams have a certain amount of uncertainty, but with young players, early health concerns about Ausar Thompson, new veterans trying to fit in and a new coach orchestrating it all, Detroit has more questions than answers with the season rapidly approaching.
Who will get the final roster spot for the Pistons?
The Pistons currently have only 13 players under full-time contracts for next season. They are most likely to fully guarantee Paul Reed’s deal, which will put them up to 14. It will be interesting to see if they fill that final spot with a two-way player or camp invite who impresses or leave it open for future deals.
Jaden Ivey, Malik Beasley, or both?
There has already been speculation about the Pistons’ starting lineup after a team video showed Jaden Ivey running with the first unit.
You can’t make anything out of a clip from practice, but with Ausar Thompson potentially unavailable, there is likely a spot open in the starting five. I thought Simone Fontecchio would be a lock at the wing with Thompson out, but it’s possible coach Bickerstaff has other things in mind.
Could we see both Beasley and Ivey in the starting five at the beginning of the season? I think it’s a distinct possibility if Thompson is not ready to go.
How will the Pistons’ bigs be used?
I’m hoping to see Duren seize the starting job in his third season with improved defense and playmaking, with Isaiah Stewart as his primary backup.
But what about Paul Reed? He’s going to play his way into the rotation, and if he can start knocking down a few more three-point shots, could put himself into the running for backup minutes at the four and five.
I’m interested to see how Bickerstaff is going to use these three, as they all have unique skills, but it’s not clear if any two of them can play at the same time.
Will Ron Holland II make the Pistons rotation?
You can pencil Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren, Malik Beasley, Simone Fontecchio and Isaiah Stewart into the Pistons rotation next season. You can probably add minutes for Paul Reed, Marcus Sasser and Tim Hardaway Jr depending on the night, which is already 10 players and that’s without Ausar Thompson, who is also a lock.
Holland is going to be fighting with those three players for bench minutes, so there is a good chance he’ll be on the outside of the rotation looking in, which may end in a spell in the G-League early in the season.