The Pistons have reshaped their offense around shooting and ball handling, and that shift has put Ron Holland II in a tricky spot.
With head coach JB Bickerstaff leaning into lineups that can space the floor and protect the ball, Holland’s role is starting to look less secure. He’s still in the picture, but once Detroit gets healthy, the question gets harder to ignore: where does he fit?
Holland is under a bit of a spotlight this season because he has only one more year left on his deal, and the Pistons could use him in a deadline trade. At the same time, Detroit could simply keep developing him through next season and see how it plays out. Nothing is settled yet.
What is clear is that his start has been uneven, and his minutes have already dipped. Holland is playing 15 minutes per game, four fewer than last season. Kevin Huerter is at 23 minutes a night, and even Javonte Green has logged more per game than Holland so far.
Bickerstaff’s approach has been obvious: keep shooters and ball handlers on the floor, and the results have followed. The Pistons are 8th in the NBA in turnovers per game after finishing 22nd in that category last season. They’re also taking and making more 3-pointers, while getting Cade Cunningham off the ball more, all of which were priorities heading into the year.
That style doesn’t naturally favor Holland. He isn’t a ball handler, and he’s averaging one turnover per game despite not having the ball often. His outside shot has shown some progress, but after missing all three attempts against the Wizards, he’s at 30 percent from deep on the season.
There is at least one encouraging sign. Over his last five games, Holland has hit more than 41 percent of his 3s. That stretch needs to hold up if he’s going to carve out a real place in this offense.
The rotation could get even tighter when Jalen Duren and Isaiah Joe return from injuries. Joe brings another bench option who will need minutes, and that could come directly at Holland’s expense if Bickerstaff keeps prioritizing shooting and offensive versatility.
For now, Holland’s best path is simple: keep grinding. He remains Detroit’s best bench defender, and if he can offer even a respectable 3-point shot, that may be enough to keep him on the floor.
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The need is fairly clear: secondary scoring and frontcourt depth would both help a team trying to keep pace with Boston and Philadelphia. Names such as John Collins, Duncan Robinson and Naz Reid have already surfaced as possible fits, which tells you the market is starting to take shape around Detroits needs. The bigger question is how aggressive the Pistons want to be, because the right move could help them chase the top of the standings, while the wrong one could cost them the flexibility that got them here. [Read more 🡒]