Detroit Pistons: 2018-19 NBA season preview

Best-case scenario

In a top-heavy Eastern Conference, the Pistons remain completely healthy and they burst into the playoffs to capture the fifth seed. The Cleveland Cavaliers are due for a major regression, and the Pistons’ big lineup can cause issues for a lot of teams. Casey turned the Raptors into a consistent top-tier team, and he can oversee a similar turnaround in the Motor City.

Griffin, Bullock and Jackson remain largely healthy, while they continue to maintain their current career arcs and avoid major regression. Drummond’s 3-point shooting adjustments in the offseason translate, and he becomes a rare stretch-5 threat. Kennard becomes the next great NBA shooter, and they take to Casey’s system quickly. This team can make a lot of noise this season, but everything has to go just the right way.

Worst-case scenario

None of the teams above Detroit get significantly worse. The Pistons struggle to take to Casey’s system, and they lose the majority of their games out of the gates to start the year. Players like Drummond, Bullock and Griffin regress, rather than progressing forward. Management could get nervous, and trade a key young piece such as Kennard to get a win-now veteran that doesn’t have the same long-term ceiling.

Stanley Johnson and Henry Ellenson continue to not progress. The injury-prone players struggle to stay healthy and the season becomes a lost cause. While the Pistons can get a better draft pick in this case, their expensive roster is built to be competitive now, so this would be considered a waste of multiple players’ primes if they aren’t battling for the playoffs. Multiple players need big years, but nothing comes of it and the team toils in mediocrity for another year.