The Pistons are starting to sort out who’s making life easier for the coaching staff and who still has work to do before the regular season kicks off Tuesday against the Boston Celtics.
At least one answer feels pretty clear already: John Collins has played his way into a larger role. Detroit’s 3-1 preseason run gave him a chance to show what he can bring, and he used it well.
When he arrived in Detroit this offseason, there were fair questions about how he’d fit. It wasn’t about whether he could score.
It was about whether he could do it in the Pistons’ style and do it consistently enough to matter next to Cade Cunningham.
So far, Collins has checked the right boxes. He’s spaced the floor efficiently, looked comfortable in pick-and-roll action with Cunningham, and brought a level of physicality that fits what Detroit wants on the court.
In the Pistons’ last preseason game against the Toronto Raptors, he logged 22 minutes and finished with 12 points and eight rebounds. Even more telling, he looked effective sharing the floor with Jalen Duren, a pairing that seems to have real traction.
Kevin Huerter, on the other hand, is in a much shakier spot. Detroit’s backcourt and wing picture is crowded, and that puts his minutes in jeopardy before the games even start counting. Duncan Robinson is projected to take the starting wing job, while Isaiah Joe’s addition gives the Pistons another player who can fill the backup sharpshooter role.
That leaves Huerter in a squeeze. If he wants to hold onto a meaningful nightly role, he needs to separate himself with better shooting, stronger defense, or more versatility. Otherwise, his playing time could shrink fast.
Some have pointed to Paul Reed as another name in that mix, but Duren’s presence makes that harder to argue after his new five-year deal.
In Other News...
Pistons Rookie Just Made JB Bickerstaffs Rotation Decision Harder
The Pistons wrapped up the preseason with a win over Torontos backups, and the final tune-up offered one more reminder that the back end of the roster has become a real competition. Ausar Thompson continued to flash on offense, but it was rookie Ebuka Okorie who drew the attention with a 14-point burst in just nine minutes, the kind of quick-hit scoring that can change how a staff thinks about its guard depth.
Daniss Jenkins still looks like the likely opening-night backup point guard, but performances like this make the discussion a little less settled than it seemed a week ago. Okorie showed enough offensive juice to at least make JB Bickerstaff keep him in the conversation, especially if the Pistons want more creation from that spot early in the season. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Flashed Real Progress But One Problem Still Stood Out
The Pistons ended their preseason on a positive note with a 129-125 win over the Raptors, and there was enough in it to suggest the offense is starting to come together. Cade Cunningham led the way with 18 points and seven assists, while Jalen Duren added 14 points and looked sharper after missing earlier preseason games during contract negotiations. Detroits shooting and spacing both stood out, two signs that the group is beginning to look more comfortable in its new shape.
Still, the final preseason tune-up also underlined the issue that can undo all that progress if it lingers. Toronto put up 45 points in the fourth quarter, and the Pistons were called for 35 personal fouls, a reminder that the defensive end is still lagging behind the offense. The talent is there for Detroit to take a step forward, but the margin for error stays thin until the stop-the-ball issues clean up. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Face One Big Test As New-Look Lineup Meets Boston
The Pistons wrapped up preseason with a win over the Raptors and now turn to the part that will tell them the most about their new-look roster: a season opener against Boston. Detroits offseason reshuffle gives the lineup a different feel, with John Collins expected to step into the starting five in place of Tobias Harris, and the front office has clearly been trying to add more spacing around the core.
A better night from long range is part of the plan, with Collins and Isaiah Joe both positioned to help the Pistons in that area. Jalen Duren also enters the season carrying momentum after a strong preseason and a fresh contract, and his role figures to be central as Detroit tries to measure itself against one of the leagues standard-bearers right away. The Celtics will offer an early read on how far this group has come, and how much more work still needs to be done. [Read more 🡒]