Pistons depth-chart prediction: Examining Detroit’s post-summer-league roster
As the Detroit Pistons’ Summer League stint comes to a close, it’s time we turn our attention ahead.
Currently, Detroit has 15 roster spots filled with guaranteed contracts, as well as both two-way spots, for the 2022-23 season. By rule, that’s a full roster. However, the Pistons still have $8-10 million in cap space at their disposal. With that much cap space and a couple of minimum contracts on the books, Detroit is a candidate to do some more roster tinkering before training camp begins at the end of September.
Unlike the last few seasons, the Pistons’ Day 1 depth chart is a little less predictable. Of course, Cade Cunningham and Saddiq Bey will be out there for the first tip-off of the season, but no one can say with 100 percent certainty who the other three starters will be.
Below is my first crack at trying to predict Detroit’s depth chart as the NBA calendar soon enters its slow period and training camp is next up on the agenda. After the table, I’ve shared my thoughts on the roster and why I have some things shaking out the way that I did.
Pistons 2022-23 depth chart prediction
PG SG SF PF C
Cade Cunningham Jaden Ivey Isaiah Livers Saddiq Bey Isaiah Stewart
Killian Hayes Hamidou Diallo Alec Burks Kelly Olynyk Marvin Bagley
Cory Joseph Kevin Knox Jalen Duren
Saben Lee Nerlens Noel
Why this starting lineup?
That’s a great question. Cunningham and Bey are locks. I think No. 5 pick Jaden Ivey is close to a lock, too. Head coach Dwane Casey had no issue starting Killian Hayes or Cunningham from Day 1 during their rookie seasons, so I don’t see why Ivey wouldn’t follow suit.
Now, let’s talk about the two Isaiahs, Stewart and Livers.
I’d just be very, very surprised if Stewart doesn’t start. The Pistons like to switch and Stewart proved to be one of the better switching bigs in the NBA last season. Additionally, he’s shown great confidence in his 3-ball dating back to the end of last season and summer league, giving Detroit possibly five guys who can adequately space the floor in their starting lineup. Stewart is talked about highly in the organization. He’s always one of the first names mentioned in conversations about the young core. He just turned 21. I think he starts.
As for Livers, this is me calling my shot. I think it’s more likely that he comes off the bench, but I do think he’d be a tremendous glue guy for this starting lineup. Livers can space the floor, and he’ll be a routine 40 percent 3-point shooter at some point in his career. I’m sure of that. Defensively, though, he adds some smarts and versatility to this group. I know it’s just summer league, but Livers was a tremendous help-side defender in the two games he played. He showed good on-ball stuff, too. He’s a great communicator. The Pistons are trying to establish their identity on that end, and I think Livers furthers that agenda.
If Livers does end up coming off the bench, I think this is what the starting lineup looks like: Cunningham-Ivey-Bey-Stewart-Bagley.
Hamidou Diallo’s role could be interesting
If my original starting lineup prediction proves to be correct, there is a clear role for Hamidou Diallo, who had his team option picked up last month. He and Alec Burks are the only other true guard/wings on the roster, so he’d surely be the backup for Ivey or Bey.
On the other hand, if the alternative starting lineup (Cunningham-Ivey-Bey-Stewart-Bagley) that I pitched ends up being the actual one, it’s hard to see a clear path for Diallo. In that scenario, the backups would be Hayes-Burks-Livers-Olynyk-Duren, a group that provides good floor spacing for Hayes as well as a lob threat. Now, it’s possible that Casey and Co. don’t think Duren will be ready for such a big role, and then Olynyk and Livers are the frontcourt off the bench, leaving a path for Diallo to slide in.
My gut tells me that Diallo will start the season with a role in the rotation. I don’t think Detroit picks up the team option just to have him sit behind a few guys. How big will that role be? I’m honestly not sure.
If the Pistons did make another roster move, who are the most likely candidates to be moved?
Something tells me Detroit isn’t done making moves. It’s just a hunch. The point-guard room is a little bit crowded, as well as the frontcourt. There aren’t a plethora of true wings at Casey’s disposal as of now.
If the Pistons do add another piece, my best guess is that it would be a wing shooter, whether via trade or free agency. Now, in order for them to add a player, someone has to go.
The most obvious candidates are Lee and Olynyk. Lee is only guaranteed $1.7 million this season and has a team option for next year. Detroit could waive the point guard, who struggled at summer league before suffering an injury, without even noticing financially. I just don’t see a role for him on this roster this coming season. Olynyk can be and should be helpful to this roster, but he is 31 and not in their long-term plans. The veteran stretch big is owed $12.8 million this season, but he only has a partial guarantee of $3 million going into next summer. A more playoff-ready team could trade for Olynyk, but a trade-deadline move might make more sense for both the Pistons and an opposing team. Keeping Olynyk around until the midway point of the season allows Detroit to bring Duren around a little bit slower, and an opposing team interested in trading for Olynyk wouldn’t have as big a financial commitment.
With all that said, I’d just be a little surprised if the Pistons go into the season with four point guards, making Lee the clearest choice to be moved if Detroit wants to add another piece. There’s a world in which Lee doesn’t go anywhere, but I still get a feeling that the Pistons have one more minor move up their sleeve.
Pistons depth-chart prediction: Examining Detroit’s post-summer-league roster
As the Detroit Pistons’ Summer League stint comes to a close, it’s time we turn our attention ahead.
Currently, Detroit has 15 roster spots filled with guaranteed contracts, as well as both two-way spots, for the 2022-23 season. By rule, that’s a full roster. However, the Pistons still have $8-10 million in cap space at their disposal. With that much cap space and a couple of minimum contracts on the books, Detroit is a candidate to do some more roster tinkering before training camp begins at the end of September.
Unlike the last few seasons, the Pistons’ Day 1 depth chart is a little less predictable. Of course, Cade Cunningham and Saddiq Bey will be out there for the first tip-off of the season, but no one can say with 100 percent certainty who the other three starters will be.
Below is my first crack at trying to predict Detroit’s depth chart as the NBA calendar soon enters its slow period and training camp is next up on the agenda. After the table, I’ve shared my thoughts on the roster and why I have some things shaking out the way that I did.
Pistons 2022-23 depth chart prediction
PG SG SF PF C
Cade Cunningham Jaden Ivey Isaiah Livers Saddiq Bey Isaiah Stewart
Killian Hayes Hamidou Diallo Alec Burks Kelly Olynyk Marvin Bagley
Cory Joseph Kevin Knox Jalen Duren
Saben Lee Nerlens Noel
Why this starting lineup?
That’s a great question. Cunningham and Bey are locks. I think No. 5 pick Jaden Ivey is close to a lock, too. Head coach Dwane Casey had no issue starting Killian Hayes or Cunningham from Day 1 during their rookie seasons, so I don’t see why Ivey wouldn’t follow suit.
Now, let’s talk about the two Isaiahs, Stewart and Livers.
I’d just be very, very surprised if Stewart doesn’t start. The Pistons like to switch and Stewart proved to be one of the better switching bigs in the NBA last season. Additionally, he’s shown great confidence in his 3-ball dating back to the end of last season and summer league, giving Detroit possibly five guys who can adequately space the floor in their starting lineup. Stewart is talked about highly in the organization. He’s always one of the first names mentioned in conversations about the young core. He just turned 21. I think he starts.
As for Livers, this is me calling my shot. I think it’s more likely that he comes off the bench, but I do think he’d be a tremendous glue guy for this starting lineup. Livers can space the floor, and he’ll be a routine 40 percent 3-point shooter at some point in his career. I’m sure of that. Defensively, though, he adds some smarts and versatility to this group. I know it’s just summer league, but Livers was a tremendous help-side defender in the two games he played. He showed good on-ball stuff, too. He’s a great communicator. The Pistons are trying to establish their identity on that end, and I think Livers furthers that agenda.
If Livers does end up coming off the bench, I think this is what the starting lineup looks like: Cunningham-Ivey-Bey-Stewart-Bagley.
Hamidou Diallo’s role could be interesting
If my original starting lineup prediction proves to be correct, there is a clear role for Hamidou Diallo, who had his team option picked up last month. He and Alec Burks are the only other true guard/wings on the roster, so he’d surely be the backup for Ivey or Bey.
On the other hand, if the alternative starting lineup (Cunningham-Ivey-Bey-Stewart-Bagley) that I pitched ends up being the actual one, it’s hard to see a clear path for Diallo. In that scenario, the backups would be Hayes-Burks-Livers-Olynyk-Duren, a group that provides good floor spacing for Hayes as well as a lob threat. Now, it’s possible that Casey and Co. don’t think Duren will be ready for such a big role, and then Olynyk and Livers are the frontcourt off the bench, leaving a path for Diallo to slide in.
My gut tells me that Diallo will start the season with a role in the rotation. I don’t think Detroit picks up the team option just to have him sit behind a few guys. How big will that role be? I’m honestly not sure.
If the Pistons did make another roster move, who are the most likely candidates to be moved?
Something tells me Detroit isn’t done making moves. It’s just a hunch. The point-guard room is a little bit crowded, as well as the frontcourt. There aren’t a plethora of true wings at Casey’s disposal as of now.
If the Pistons do add another piece, my best guess is that it would be a wing shooter, whether via trade or free agency. Now, in order for them to add a player, someone has to go.
The most obvious candidates are Lee and Olynyk. Lee is only guaranteed $1.7 million this season and has a team option for next year. Detroit could waive the point guard, who struggled at summer league before suffering an injury, without even noticing financially. I just don’t see a role for him on this roster this coming season. Olynyk can be and should be helpful to this roster, but he is 31 and not in their long-term plans. The veteran stretch big is owed $12.8 million this season, but he only has a partial guarantee of $3 million going into next summer. A more playoff-ready team could trade for Olynyk, but a trade-deadline move might make more sense for both the Pistons and an opposing team. Keeping Olynyk around until the midway point of the season allows Detroit to bring Duren around a little bit slower, and an opposing team interested in trading for Olynyk wouldn’t have as big a financial commitment.
With all that said, I’d just be a little surprised if the Pistons go into the season with four point guards, making Lee the clearest choice to be moved if Detroit wants to add another piece. There’s a world in which Lee doesn’t go anywhere, but I still get a feeling that the Pistons have one more minor move up their sleeve.
