The Detroit Pistons didn’t overhaul the roster, but they did add something they were missing: real lineup flexibility.
Last season, Detroit had depth, but not much versatility when the bench came into play. The group leaned heavily on defense-first pieces who didn’t bring much offensive punch, especially in the half court.
Isaiah Stewart, Ron Holland II and Javonte Green were among the players who usually weren’t looking to score unless the moment handed them something easy. That left the Pistons with one clear identity - attack the paint and try to create offense off their defense.
That setup made Detroit more reactive than proactive. Instead of forcing opponents to adjust, the Pistons were often the ones answering the other team’s changes. Next season, that dynamic should look different.
The biggest shift is that Detroit now has more ways to shape a game. The roster changes weren’t massive, but the additions of shooting and extra versatility should give the Pistons more control over matchups and lineups.
There’s a path to some very big combinations. Detroit already has size in its starting five, but it could get even bigger by pairing John Collins with both Jalen Duren and Paul Reed.
That wouldn’t be the look every night, but it gives the Pistons a jumbo option they simply didn’t have before. Because Collins and Reed can both shoot the 3-ball, that kind of alignment can stretch a defense in ways last year’s group couldn’t.
The Pistons can also go in the other direction and get smaller. Collins at the five opens the door to more shooting on the floor, which could help Detroit maximize spacing and efficiency in certain stretches.
If defense is the priority, the options are there too. Detroit can stack up on disruptive defenders with combinations of Ausar Thompson, Ron Holland II, Javonte Green and Paul Reed. Any three of those players together would create a chaotic lineup, especially if they’re surrounded by shooters who can punish defenses in transition.
And when the Pistons need more creation, they can bring in Daniss Jenkins and even Kevin Huerter alongside Cade Cunningham. They could also go really small with three-guard looks that include Ebuka Okorie.
Those are the kinds of lineups that should show up when Detroit wants to speed the game up or close out a lead late.
The larger point is simple: the Pistons can now play more than one way. With more shooters on the floor at once, they should be able to diversify the offense, even if that means giving up some points in the paint. The tradeoff could be worth it if it leads to a more efficient and varied attack.
Detroit didn’t make a dramatic roster shakeup. But the changes were enough to give the Pistons a better chance to dictate the matchup instead of just reacting to it.
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