3 Scenarios the Pistons desparately need to avoid in 2024-25

JB Bickerstaff can’t constantly change roles for young players 

One of the biggest gripes fans had against Monty Williams was that he never established clear roles and minutes for his young players. 

Both Jaden Ivey and Ausar Thompson were jerked in and out of the starting five and in the case of Ivey, it did seem to have a big effect on him. 

Obviously, there will be adjustments made throughout the season, but we have to emerge from 2024-25 knowing answers to the questions about the young guys. 

Is Jaden Ivey a starter alongside Cade Cunningham or the backup point guard? Can Marcus Sasser handle minutes as the backup PG? Who is the starting center? Is Ausar Thompson the answer at small forward? Power forward? Can he play with Ron Holland II? Is Jalen Duren the center of the future? 

Answering these questions is more important than a win or two, so coach Bickerstaff needs to establish a rotation with clear roles and stick with it, even if we don’t like the answers.

We can’t go into next season wondering how Cade and Ivey fit or whether Duren can defend well enough to be a starting center. If we are still asking these kinds of questions next offseason, then the 2024-25 campaign will have been a failure.