Detroit Pistons: 3 bold predictions for the 2018-19 season

2. Stanley Johnson becomes a bench player

Stanley Johnson was drafted to be the team’s 3-and-D wing of the future. It’s very possible that he doesn’t even start for the Pistons at the start of the season. Casey’s Toronto Raptors were one of the top teams in the NBA last season. On both ends of the floor, they graded out in the top-five in overall rating. A lot of that came down to the play of their wings alongside their two stars in Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan.

Johnson’s lack of effectiveness on offense will give Casey more reason to push him to the bench. With the team’s three stars needing floor-spacing around them, a player like Johnson just doesn’t provide that. The team brought in Glenn Robinson III to give the team more shooting on the wing. When healthy, he gives Detroit a 3-and-D wing that can help give Griffin, Drummond and Jackson the spacing they need. Robinson gives the team depth, but he also will push Johnson.

In addition to Robinson, the team also has the incumbent Reggie Bullock, who was one of the best 3-point shooters in the NBA last season. While he’s not the defensive savant that Johnson or Robinson is, he can hold his own at 6’7″ and 205 pounds. Johnson still has an extremely high ceiling. However, that ceiling is tied to his ability to shoot from outside the paint. If he comes into training camp still struggling with his shot, he could be relegated to full-time bench duty.