Detroit Pistons: 3 priorities for the Pistons heading into 2021-22

The Detroit Pistons’ bench must be a strength

Due to the amount of inexperience on the roster, i’s important that the Pistons bench play well enough to help offset any struggles or hardships this team may encounter. The Pistons signed veteran Kelly Olynyk to help fortify the bench. Olynyk can shoot it as a stretch-4, he’s a good shooter out of the post and out of the pick-and-roll, he can run the floor and should be an upgrade over Mason Plumlee who was traded to the Charlotte Hornets.

While Plumlee only averaged 10.4 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 3.6 assists on 61.4 percent shooting, Olynyk should prove to be more efficient in that same role as he totaled 19 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists on 54.5 percent shooting in the 27 games he played with the Houston Rockets last season.

Olynyk could also serve as a mentor for players like Luka Garza and Stewart and become a great influence helping them to develop into solid NBA players. Last season Josh Jackson played well coming off the bench playing 25.2 minutes and scoring 13.4 points even though he was placed in the starting lineup on a few occasions. Jackson does a lot of good things on both ends of the floor.

He’s a competitor with a good motor and exerts positive energy whenever he is on the floor. He attacks the rim on offense and can finish at a high rate and should continue to be a force on the Pistons’ second unit.

The Pistons also have several rotational players who can contribute off the bench. They re-signed guard Cory Joseph to a two-year, $10 million agreement and he is a player who can provide quality minutes during situational basketball as a defensive player. The Pistons also have Frank Jackson, Rodney McGruder and Saban Lee who can help out in the backcourt.

In the frontcourt there is Sekou Doumbouya, the versatile Hamidou Diallo, new acquisition Trey Lyles and Jahlil Okafor. The success of the Pistons’ second unit may largely determine the outcome of their season and chemistry within this group will be a major factor.