Predicting Detroit Pistons' rotation: Will Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey be staggered?

The Detroit Pistons bring a refreshed roster into the 2024-25 season. They also have a new head coach in J.B. Bickerstaff, which makes it tougher than usual to project their depth chart and rotation.

They boast a mix of young players and proven veterans, with the latter being an offseason priority after last year's disastrous 14-win result. Assuming good health, it appears a couple of rotation-worthy players may have a tough time finding playing time. The group could still change, too, as the Pistons have a roster spot open and more than $11 million in remaining cap space (plus the $7.9 million room exception).

Here's how the Pistons 2024-25 depth chart could look, with thoughts on each position group.

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Depth Chart

PG: Cade Cunningham, Marcus Sasser.

SG: Jaden Ivey, Malik Beasley, Wendell Moore Jr.

SF: Simone Fontecchio, Tim Hardaway Jr., Ron Holland.

PF: Tobias Harris, Ausar Thompson, Bobi Klintman.

C: Jalen Duren, Isaiah Stewart, Paul Reed.

Guards

Cade Cunningham is the only player on the roster whose role is easy to predict — the offense will run through him, after all. It gets dicier after that. The Pistons still lack a second natural point guard, so someone will have to play out of position. 

Sasser is listed as the backup point guard here, but Bickerstaff could let Ivey handle the remaining minutes when Cunningham sits. The third-year guard has a mixed record as the lead ball-handler, showing promise toward the end of his rookie season but regressing last year. It’s an opportunity for him to continue developing into the player the Pistons need him to be, especially since he’ll become extension-eligible next summer. 

Bickerstaff previously coached star guards Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland with the Cleveland Cavaliers. It’s not an exact comparison, as Mitchell and Garland are far more established than Cunningham and Ivey. But when asked what he learned from coaching the duo, Bickerstaff noted that he made an effort to stagger them.  

“Any time you get the opportunity to be fortunate enough to work with elite basketball players, you have to take something and learn from them,” Bickerstaff said. “Finding different ways to use them together, finding different ways to rotate them so they get the opportunity to play to their strengths. We always tried to keep one of those guys on the floor. We allow them to close games together, to start games together, but you build your rotation so that you always have one of those dynamic players on the floor.”

It doesn’t mean he’ll stagger Cunningham and Ivey from Day 1, but the potential is there if Ivey looks comfortable with the ball during training camp. It would give the Pistons two weapons at the one, with Ivey’s speed providing a contrast to Cunningham’s style. 

“I want to take first-hand notes and get two of those guys together before I make any decisions or any declarations to you guys about how we’ll use them and what we’ll do with them,” Bickerstaff said. “But believing in their talent and their skill set, there's going to be plenty of ways that we can use them so that they’ll be difficult for opponents to match with.” 

Beasley is an easy fit at the off-guard position, being a veteran with a career 38.5% clip from 3. It isn’t clear if there will be minutes available for Sasser and Moore, but Sasser can differentiate himself if he can be more than just a shooter next season.

Forwards

This is, by far, the Pistons’ deepest position group and likely the most challenging rotation for Bickerstaff to solve. He has multiple veteran shooters to choose from — Fontecchio, Hardaway and Harris— and several young players with mismatched skill sets in Holland, Klintman and Thompson. There are multiple combinations the coaching staff can go with, depending on whether offense or defense is the priority. 

Harris and Fontecchio as the starting small and power forwards would maximize their spacing, and Fontecchio is also one of the few defenders on the roster who is at least average. If Bickerstaff is leaning toward defense, he could go with Thompson at either spot. Hardaway, too, seems like a strong bet to play as another volume 3-point shooter. 

It’s tough to see how the rookies, Holland and Klintman, factor in next season. Holland provides energy and the team is high on his defense, but he’s also a teenager with development ahead. Klintman has been one of their Summer League standouts and could be a viable third power forward, in case of injuries. The Pistons won’t be forced to lean on the duo, with the multitude of veterans in front of them. They should be able to bring them up to speed at their own pace. 

Bigs

Duren has started 91 of his 128 career games, but it’s tough to project if he’ll remain a starter entering his third season. He’s the best lob threat and rebounder on the roster and is fresh off of averaging a double-double last season. But he’s still only 20 years old, and will have to prove he can be the rim protector the team needs. 

Rim protection might be the biggest weakness in Duren’s game right now, but he has the tools to become effective. Bickerstaff has expressed optimism that Duren will get there. 

Stewart spent most of his time at power forward last season, but he appears to be more comfortable as a floor-spacing center. He’s also the best defender in the group, meaning he should have a substantial role whether he starts or sits. Bickerstaff has two very different options to pick between at the five. 

Reed is also capable, appearing in 82 games with the Philadelphia 76ers last season (including 26 starts). He was a necessary addition to the roster, as the Pistons needed a third center. But his role is tough to project with two young bigs in front of him. If nothing else, he’ll provide insurance in the event Duren or Stewart get hurt.

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Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him @omarisankofa.