The Detroit Pistons are underway in training camp ahead of the 2021-22 NBA season, and they have a completely different look from the roster they started camp with last season.
Gone are Mason Plumlee, Blake Griffin and Derrick Rose, as well as a host of others. Incoming are Cade Cunningham and Kelly Olynyk to join mainstays like Saddiq Bey, Josh Jackson and Jerami Grant. The roster looks new, and the starting five will be a new one as well when the games get started for real.
The Detroit Pistons are underway in camp ahead of the coming season and have new starters in place. How will this starting 5 fare statistically?
The Piston starting unit has not yet been set in stone, as far as we know. There is potential for some fluctuation, particularly at the center spot, but we’ll go with some assumptions as we predict how the starters will fare statistically.
In our predictions, we’ll combine steals and blocks into “stocks”, and rather than the traditional FG-3P-FT shooting splits, we’ll break them down into 2P-3P-FT.
Let’s run down the starters, from the expected first scoring option through the fifth option.
- Jerami Grant: 23.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.8 stocks, shooting splits 48-38-80
Jerami Grant’s offensive production should only increase as a result of playing alongside a gifted playmaker like Cade Cunningham. The heavy load a season ago produced declining results from Grant, so expect a little help to go a long way.
- Cade Cunningham: 18.5 points, 8.0 assists, 5.0 rebounds, 1.2 stocks, shooting splits 47-37-85
Cade Cunningham is the future in Detroit, and his skill set is such that he should be expected to produce right away. He won’t be an All-NBA candidate right off the bat, but he’ll have an above-average shot at being a positive contributor much faster than rookies tend to be.
- Kelly Olynyk: 13.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.1 stocks, shooting splits 47-36-77
Will Kelly Olynyk beat out Isaiah Stewart for the starting center spot? Only time will tell, but his veteran status may give him a leg up. On the other hand, Dwane Casey and the Piston coaching staff love Stewart thanks to their season together last year, so it could be a tough one to call.
- Saddiq Bey: 12.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.0 stocks, shooting splits 42-40-82
Saddiq Bey is coming off an excellent rookie season in which he claimed an Eastern Conference Player of the Week nod, and he’s looking to surpass his performance in his sophomore year. He’s a good shooter, good rebounder and an excellent defender, and these elements give him a solid baseline to ensure he’s able to do so.
- Killian Hayes: 9.5 points, 6.0 assists, 3.5 rebounds, 1.8 stocks, shooting splits 38-29-84
Killian Hayes has plenty of promise, but that rookie season of his was one for the ages. And not in a good way. He battled injuries and a broken shot, but he’s worked hard all offseason so there’s plenty of reason to believe he’ll take a step or two forward. That might still end up producing mediocre statistical output in year 2, mind you.
These predictions expect Kelly Olynyk to win the starter spot but don’t be surprised if Isaiah Stewart usurps the role as the season goes on. For good measure, we’ll include Stewart’s predicted stats as well, as there’s a great chance he ends up winning the starter role sometime this season. Even if not, Stewart will be a major contributor throughout the season.
- Isaiah Stewart: 11.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 2.0 stocks, shooting splits 59-33-72
Stewart is now the best rebounder on the roster (and may have been before Plumlee was traded) and has potential one day to be the best defender, although his undersized nature complicates things against other skilled NBA big men.