Detroit Pistons: Post-trade deadline stretch run outlook

The Young Player Rotation

Much has been made about Coach Casey’s handling of the minutes for young players, most recently rookie Sekou Doumbouya.  Once Doumbouya broke into the rotation as a starter some fans thought and hoped that would be his role for the long haul.

Unfortunately, that has not been the case. Inconsistent effort and lapses of play have led to Casey calling out his young player and limiting his minutes from time to time.

While this draws the ire of some vocal fans, this is a strategy that should be embraced. Too many tanks have gone awry because players developed losing habits. They were never held accountable because youth and losing were all that mattered. Casey has a reputation of developing young players dating back to his days in Toronto.

Instant gratification is not a part of any rebuild. Waiting for young players to earn their minutes is part of it just as much as a lot of losing is.

Fans only need to look back to the beginning of this season when Casey held Christian Wood accountable for his defensive lapses and look at how much it helped him grow. Doumbouya will get the minutes as he earns them.  The same can be said for Jordan Bone, Louis King and possibly even Donta Hall is a roster spot is created.

Luke Kennard should be back in the coming weeks following a lengthy absence due to knee tendinitis. Doumbouya and Kennard have not shared the floor since the rookie’s emergence and fans are looking forward to the two most hyped draftees sharing the floor. Combining that with recent Rising Stars participant Svi Mykhialiuk, and the Pistons have a promising young core with future lottery picks on the way.