The Detroit Pistons haven’t wrapped up every piece of business yet, with the Jalen Duren situation still hanging in the air. That said, the bulk of their offseason work is behind them, and the shape of next season’s roster is now fairly clear.
While this offseason may not have delivered the flashy moves that some fans were hoping for, Detroit is still positioned as one of the Eastern Conference’s stronger teams heading into opening night. The subdued approach might have left parts of the fanbase disappointed, but for certain players on the roster, it’s actually a welcome development. Here’s a look at who stands to gain the most from the Pistons’ decisions this summer.
John Collins
Much like the LA Clippers turning the page by moving on from Kawhi Leonard, Collins now finds himself on a legitimate playoff contender. After spending three straight years on the outside looking in come postseason time, the veteran forward is set to return to the playoff stage with Detroit.
He also faces no real challenge for his starting role. As the team’s only true power forward, his place in the lineup is secure regardless of how the rest of the rotation shakes out. On top of that, pairing with Cade Cunningham in the pick-and-roll should give his scoring both a volume and efficiency lift.
Paul Reed
After spending time as the league’s most overqualified third-string center, Reed is finally poised for a meaningful rotational spot. With Isaiah Stewart out of the picture, Reed looks set to log around 20 minutes per game—something he’s only done once before in his career. He’ll serve as the primary backup to Jalen Duren and should also see minutes alongside him in twin-tower lineups.
This is a perfect setup for the 27-year-old, especially with his contract entering its final year. If he can carry over the momentum from Detroit’s playoff run, he’ll attract plenty of interest next summer and position himself for a significant payday.
Ron Holland
Even though Holland didn’t make the sophomore leap many expected and eventually lost his rotation spot, he’s managed to keep his place on the roster. Trade rumors followed him throughout the summer, but he’s weathered the speculation and now heads into his third season with a defined role in the rotation.
The shooting additions Detroit made this offseason should work in his favor. He clearly still has work to do on the offensive end, but at least he’ll have more room to operate. Sharing the floor with Ausar Thompson and a traditional center will continue to pose spacing challenges, but Holland’s path to minutes remains unobstructed for now.
That said, his leash will be short. If he doesn’t show noticeable improvement by the trade deadline, the trade chatter will only intensify. But until then, he’ll have every opportunity to demonstrate what he can bring to the team.
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