One of the biggest questions facing the Detroit Pistons next season is how John Collins fits into the starting lineup at power forward, where he’ll replace Tobias Harris and force a different look on offense.
That change only matters if the Pistons get more than just a name swap. Collins is supposed to bring a new layer of spacing, and the hope is that his shooting opens up everything else around him. But that plan depends on him doing something he’s never really done in his career: launch 3s at a much higher rate.
Collins has been efficient from deep, but he’s never been a high-volume threat. He has never averaged more than 3.7 attempts from 3-point range per game, and he has never made more than 1.5 per game. For Detroit, those numbers have to climb.
The comparison with Harris makes the point clear. Last season, Harris actually took more 3-point attempts per game than Collins, even though the two finished with the same number of made 3s per game on average. If Collins keeps that same level of volume, his accuracy won’t change much for the Pistons.
What Detroit really needs is something closer to 5-6 3-point attempts per game from Collins. That’s the kind of number that would let the spacing actually work the way the team wants it to.
There’s reason to think the looks will be there. Cade Cunningham draws plenty of attention on his own, and teams have to react to his pick-and-roll pressure. That should leave Collins open in the corner, where the Pistons need him to shoot without hesitation and force the defense to stay honest.
The other side of this is what Detroit loses with Harris gone. He was much more comfortable scoring on the block, in the mid-range, and in the post, and he was the player the Pistons could lean on when they needed a bucket. Collins isn’t built to replace that kind of shot creation.
So the path for Collins is pretty clear. If he doesn’t increase his 3-point volume, the move becomes a lot less valuable for Detroit. If he does, he has a chance to step into a new role as a volume 3-and-D option, which is exactly the kind of fit the Pistons are hoping for.
In Other News...
Pistons May Have A New Lineup Teams Wont Want To See
The Pistons have spent the offseason looking for ways to make the floor bigger around Cade Cunningham, and one possible answer is a small-ball group built for spacing and switching. With Duncan Robinson and Isaiah Joe supplying shooting, Detroit has enough perimeter gravity to at least borrow a little from the old Warriors model, while John Collins gives the front line another athletic piece who can help keep the offense moving.
What makes the idea more interesting is how much it depends on the defensive side of the equation. Ausar Thompson is the kind of versatile stopper who could help a positionless look survive by cleaning up mistakes and chasing different matchups across the floor, which is why this kind of lineup has real intrigue in short bursts even if it is never meant to become the teams full identity. For a Pistons team trying to find an edge, that balance of shooting and disruption could be worth watching closely. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Face A Pressure Point That Could Define Their Next Step
Cade Cunningham remains the centerpiece of Detroits rebuild, and the latest roster discussion around the Pistons keeps circling back to the same concern: there is still not enough offensive help around him. Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson give the group promise on the young side, but the bigger picture is whether those pieces are enough to keep pace while the Eastern Conference continues to tighten up around them.
That is why the pressure point feels so immediate. Detroit has spent enough time collecting young talent, and now the question is whether the front office is ready to lean into the short term by using draft capital to add proven scoring and make the roster more functional right away. The Pistons do not have the luxury of waiting forever, and the next move could say a lot about how aggressively they want to climb in the East. [Read more 🡒]
Isaiah Stewart Could Still Make The Pistons Regret This Decision
Isaiah Stewarts departure this offseason was one of those moves that made sense on paper for Detroit, at least from the Pistons point of view. His offensive role had been limited under JB Bickerstaff, and while his defense remained a valuable calling card, the team saw enough change in how he was being used to decide a fresh start was needed.
Now Stewart is set up for a different kind of opportunity with the Grizzlies, who intend to use him alongside their frontcourt core. Detroit still expects him to bring the same physical presence and defensive stability he showed here, but theres also a quiet curiosity attached to this split. If Memphis unlocks even a modest step forward on the offensive end, the Pistons could be left wondering whether they moved on just a little too early. [Read more 🡒]