Well, based on my pre-season expectations, this season did not go well; however, based on certain transactions and progressions, there is a lot to be excited about going forward.
The Core
Cunningham, Bey, Stewart, Hayes, Grant, Diallo
To begin with, Cade Cunningham is the franchise centerpiece the organization has been looking for since the Goin to Work team collapsed in 2009. So much can be said about Cunningham. He's that guy. He's the best rookie this year. His potential is exciting for Pistons fans.
Sadiq Bey, Isaiah Stewart, and Killian Hayes (the First Round Picks from 2020) appear to round out a strong young core. I think Bey provides a great number 2 to Cunningham. His strides this year were very encouraging. His numbers, I think, are a little skewed by his rough start. Beef Stew's offseason injury didn't have much made of it, but I think that his speed and explosiveness were limited through the first half or so of the season. Down the stretch, he looked a lot healthier. Hayes' improvement in the final weeks of the season should please Pistons fans. He looks like a solid rotation player.
Jerami Grant and Hamidou Diallo also appear to be key pieces going forward. Grant is a strong third-scoring option. (I think Bey will surpass him next season). Diallo's energy and defense off the bench is something the Pistons haven't had in a while either. He makes big plays in short minutes. That's the quintessential second-unit player.
So, that is six players that I feel confident will be a part of the team going forward. I know trade rumors swirl around Jerami Grant almost constantly, but I feel like we should keep him because he took a chance in coming to Detroit. He could be the Pistons' version of Pudge Rodriguez. He could make it possible for Detroit to be a landing spot. The Pistons feel like they could make a jump next season. Having an elite scorer like Grant isn't something they should take for granted.
The Vets of Uncertainty
Joseph, Olynyk, McGruder, Jackson, Edwards, Bagley
I'd like to start this off by acknowledging the varying levels of situations here. Frank Jackson will most likely be back next year, but I don't see a guarantee of him being a rotation player. His outside shooting left a lot to be desired this year. Without shooting, I don't see how he holds a place in the rotation.
Marvin Bagley III presents an interesting scenario. I'd love to see him return, but this will largely depend on what happens in the draft. His time with the Pistons was fantastic. He showed flashes of potential in the pick and roll and in the post. He scores in a way that no other Pistons players do. I'd love to see him back in Detroit. He plays really well with this group, particularly Cade Cunningham.
I'd be shocked to see Rodney McGruder and Carson Edwards return along with Frank Jackson. The Pistons' largest need is a 2-guard that can score without the ball, but I don't see either of these guys filling that role. I see the possibility of the Pistons keeping one guy like this that isn't in the regular rotation. Right now, I'd bet on McGruder of Jackson.
Cory Joseph is my least favorite Piston. He isn't horrible; he plays the point guard like he thinks he is Allen Iverson or something. When he plays a less ball-dominant role, he is a strong role player. I personally feel like Cade, Killian, and Saben should have all of the point-guard minutes going forward. He stepped in and contributed, sure, but to what end? The Pistons still lost a ton of games and missed out on development opportunities. Olynyk is an interesting case. He struggled with some injuries and didn't look like the player the Pistons were hoping to get. He can't play the five anymore; He would be a good backup of 4, though. Of course, this all depends upon who the Pistons draft, resign, and so on. I don't see a need to keep both veteran players. For example, if they draft one of the bigs at the top of the draft and resign Bagley, I don't see how they keep Olynyk. I think that the Pistons should continue to get more Weaver players and fewer Casey players.
The Gritty Hopefuls
Lee, Garza, Pickett, Key, Livers
I like all five of these guys. When they received the opportunity to play at the NBA level, they all looked good. Of course, they all dominated at the G-League level. The reality is that they probably won't all be back even though they had encouraging development during their rookie seasons.
Isaiah Livers is only a short sample size away from being on the Core players list. I don't doubt seeing him in that group next year. His outside shooting and defense should earn him a rotation spot. Saben Lee's season is disappointing. I know that he had some sloppy play, but he should still be a part of the Pistons' future plans. He could jump next year into the third point guard role, usurping Cory Joseph. This year, Cunningham established himself as the top dog, and Hayes showed that he deserves minutes as well. So, that should allow for one other ball-handler. Hopefully, it will be Lee.
Garza, Pickett, and Key are all guys working to be on the team again. I like all three players. They have the potential to be significant role players. Garza's defense improved down the stretch. His offense and rebounding are at the NBA level. We'll see what the Pistons do in the offseason, though. Key's defense and bench play is similar to Diallo's. He's not at that level obviously, but he could be a good role player. Pickett's biggest skill is his jump-shooting. He's a decent defensive player, too. So, for these guys, it will depend on who the Pistons draft and consequent decisions about veterans and how to fill out the roster. I'm all for taking a chance on these guys, but tough decisions lie ahead.
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