The Detroit Pistons had arguably the worst start to the 2023 offseason of any team. The Pistons, who won a league-lowest 17 games last season, came up on the wrong end of the lottery draw. Not only did they lose out on potential franchise-changer Victor Wembanyama, but they fell to the fifth overall pick.
2023-24 NBA Power Rankings Offseason Edition: No. 27 Detroit Pistons
Detroit ended up doing well and surprised some pundits by selecting Ausar Thompson with the fifth pick. Thompson is exceptionally athletic and demonstrated excellent two-way potential during the 2K24 Las Vegas Summer League.
Thompson is not the only reason Pistons’ fans should be excited for the upcoming season, despite Detroit having won fewer than 25 games in each of the last four seasons. Cade Cunningham is expected to be healthy after playing in just 12 games last year due to a left shin injury. Cunningham and Jalen Duren were chosen to the USA Select Team this summer. Cunningham, Duren, and Jaden Ivey should continue to develop this year.
Detroit also added Marcus Sasser a week after the draft from the Boston Celtics. However, exactly what role Sasser will have to start the season is unclear. He will likely start with the G League’s Motor City Cruise, but he is a defensive ace.
The Pistons extended starting center Isaiah Stewart’s contract for four years. Stewart has improved in each of his NBA seasons, setting a career-high with 11.3 points despite being limited to 50 games. They also kept Alec Burks and Bojan Bogdanovic while adding veterans Monte Morris and Joe Harris.
Perhaps, most importantly, Detroit chose Monty Williams as head coach. Williams is 367-336 in nine NBA head coaching campaigns, posting a winning record five times. He guided the Phoenix Suns to the 2021 NBA Finals.
So, the Pistons should at least have more depth than they’ve had in recent years, which is why they are listed at No. 27 in my early power rankings.
Pistons’ Summer League
Detroit went 4-1 in Vegas and barely missed participating in the playoffs. Duren, Ivey, and James Wiseman were excellent in their two games.
Sasser had an up-and-down summer session. He was inconsistent on offense, with shot selection being a big issue. However, he did explode for 40 against Indiana on July 16.
Dropped a 40-piece for the 2023 @NBASummerLeague scoring high📊 pic.twitter.com/0aGlBp7q0H
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) July 16, 2023
Sasser showed out on the defensive end and demonstrated his ability to run a team. The 22-year-old point guard compiled 15.6 points, 3.4 assists, and 1.2 steals while posting a shooting slash line of 44/27/64.
While Thompson’s athleticism took centerstage on both ends, he does have things to work on. He finished exceptionally well at the rim and was incredible on the glass.
All we got to say is, rook got hops pic.twitter.com/kWslAzzKBq
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) July 15, 2023
The 20-year-old needs to improve his shooting acumen and ball handling. He produced one double-double and averaged 13.5 points, 10.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.2 steals, and 1.8 blocks.
Detroit’s two-way players, Jared Rhoden and Malcolm Cazalon, were also on the Summer League squad. Rhoden, who played in 14 games for the Pistons last season, played well in Vegas, while Cazalon’s defense was far ahead of his offense.
Best Offseason Decision: Not Trading Bojan Bogdanovic
Since the last trade deadline, there have been rumors that the Pistons could trade Bogdanovic. But despite the reports of some traction on the trade front, Detroit has decided to hang on to the veteran for now. That could change between now and February, but Bogdanovic can be an asset as long he is in Detroit.
Bogdanovic can still play despite being 34, and he can mentor the Pistons’ youngsters. He is also still capable of playing both forward spots. Most importantly, Bogdanovic is the Pistons’ best shooter and lone three-point ace.
Bogdanovic is coming off one of the best seasons in his eight-year career, pouring in a career-high 21.6 points a game. Bogdanovic, a career 39.4% shooter from the three-point line, also drained 2.5 threes a game while shooting 48.8% from the field and 41.1% from beyond the arc.
Worst Offseason Decision: Not Trading Killian Hayes
Killian Hayes has joined Bogdanovic, Wiseman, and Burks in the trade rumor mill this summer. All three may be traded at some point this season. But the Pistons reportedly want to unload Hayes, who is slated to become a restricted free agent next summer.
Hayes showed improvement last year in his third NBA campaign. However, the 22-year-old can’t shoot, and the Pistons have a plethora of point guards on their roster. He is also inconsistent on defense.
What’s Next: Figure Out the Rotation
Detroit has 14 players with fully guaranteed deals. The Pistons are under the salary cap, so they could add some players if they swing a deal or two. They added shooting with Harris and Morris and are hoping Williams can fix their defensive issues.
According to Pistons Insider Keith Langlois, Cunningham, Ivey, and Bogdanovic are the only locks to start. Langlois added that Duren and Stewart are close to being locks though he has Morris as a possibility if Williams does start just one big.
The second unit is harder to figure out, with Marvin Bagley III and Wiseman vying for third on the big depth chart. Meanwhile, Isaiah Livers, Harris, Burks, and Thompson figure to be fighting for backup minutes in the backcourt.
