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Meet the 2024-25 Detroit Pistons

Monicel
Meet the 2024-25 Detroit Pistons

Detroit – Under president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon and coach JB Bickerstaff, the Detroit Pistons overhauled their roster this summer after enduring the worst season in franchise history. The Pistons acquired a handful of veterans through free agency and trade, combining significant experience with their promising young talent.

Here’s a look at the Pistons’ 2024-25 roster.

guards

Malik Beasley

▶ Age: 27

▶ Height: 6-4

▶ Weight: 187

▶ Analysis: Beasley is one of the few veterans Langdon signed during free agency. Joined the Pistons on a one-year, $6.0 million deal after an impressive year with the Milwaukee Bucks, averaging 11.3 points on 44.3 percent shooting from the field and 41.3% in 3-point shooting in 79 games played.

After training camp, Beasley has already established himself as one of Detroit’s top veterans who will be vital in helping the Pistons revitalize their franchise. Whether a starting or sixth option, Beasley will play a prominent role in Bickerstaff’s rotation next season.

Cade Cunningham

▶ Age: 23

▶ Height: 6-6

▶ Weight: 220

▶ Analysis: If not for a franchise-worst 14 wins, Cunningham would have received an All-Star nomination last season. He bounced back gracefully from a season-ending shin injury the year before, averaging 22.7 points, 7.5 assists and 4.3 rebounds in 62 games.

Cunningham agreed to a five-year, $224 million rookie max contract in July. While it would have been hard for him to turn down the first of many max deals, his long-term commitment to the Pistons is a testament to his belief in the new regime. If Detroit shows signs of progression this season, expect Cunningham to earn his first All-Star selection and earned respect as one of the best players in the league.

Tim Hardaway Jr.

▶ Age: 32

▶ Height: 6-5

▶ Weight: 205

▶ Analysis: Hardaway Jr. had a terrible end to his career with the Dallas Mavericks. Once considered an essential part of their rotation, the Michigan product found himself the odd man out during the Mavericks’ run to the NBA Finals last season. Hardaway’s shooting struggles were the main reason the Mavericks phased him out of the rotation during the playoffs.

Dallas played 22 postseason games, during which Hardaway averaged 12.7 minutes and recorded eight DNPs. Hardaway’s reduced role led to the Pistons acquiring his services in a July trade. However, after five preseason games, Hardaway is still in a big shooting slump. He averaged 2.6 points while shooting 2-for-18 from 3.

Jaden Ivey

▶ Age: 22

▶ Height: 6-4

▶ Weight: 195

▶ Analysis: Last season was disappointing for Ivey. He began the 2023–24 season as the Pistons’ sixth man and filled various roles due to the team’s deficiencies. Inconsistencies contributed to Ivey’s down season, and his numbers dipped slightly from his rookie year, averaging 15.4 points and 3.8 assists. During his rookie season, the former Purdue prospect averaged 16.3 points and 5.2 assists.

However, similar to Cunningham, Ivey’s belief in the new regime has restored confidence in the franchise. He also spent the offseason working on improving his weaknesses, and the improvements have Ivey on the cusp of a breakout season.

Daniss Jenkins

▶ Age: 23

▶ Height: 6-3

▶ Weight: 165

▶ Analysis: After going undrafted during the 2024 NBA Draft, Jenkins signed with the Pistons just days before the start of the Summer League tournament in July. The undrafted prospect from St. John’s averaged 9.6 points, 3.8 assists and 1.2 steals in Las Vegas. Jenkins signed a two-way contract and will spend most of the season playing for the Motor City Cruise.

However, throughout training camp and the preseason, Jenkins showed that he would be a player who could receive multiple G League call-ups. In the Pistons’ 108-92 preseason finale against the Cavaliers, Jenkins finished with 13 points, two assists, two steals and two rebounds.

Wendell Moore Jr.

▶ Age: 23

▶ Height: 6-5

▶ Weight: 215

▶ Analysis: Moore Jr. joins the Pistons after a trade that sent him to the Motor City in exchange for the 53rd pick in the 2024 NBA Draft from the Minnesota Timberwolves. Detroit also acquired the 37th pick in the trade, which was used to select Bobi Klintman. Moore spent his first two seasons in the G League. In 13 games, he averaged 15.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists for the Iowa Wolves.

Marcus Sasser

▶ Age: 24

▶ Height: 6-2

▶ Weight: 195

▶ Analysis: Due to injuries and flawed roster construction, Sasser was another player for whom the Pistons’ deficiencies last season affected his play, similar to Ivey. Sasser had an up-and-down rookie year, but showed his potential on several occasions.

In a 128-122 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on February 8, Sasser posted his first career double-double of 17 points and 11 assists. He played in 71 games with 11 starts and averaged 8.3 points and 3.3 assists. Finding a consistent role for Sasser will be one of Bickerstaff’s most significant tasks in his first year as Pistons coach.

in front

Simone Fontecchio

▶ Age: 28

▶ Height: 6-7

▶ Weight: 209

▶ Analysis: Fontecchio played in 16 games after the Pistons acquired him in a February trade from the Utah Jazz. He averaged 15.4 points on .479/.426/.846 shooting splits in Detroit before a toe injury ended his season early.

Fontecchio signed a two-year, $16 million contract in July to remain with the Pistons as a free agent. He can still take the helm as the team’s best shooter. However, Bickerstaff believes Fontecchio can be more than just a three-point shooting threat because of his versatility on the court.

Tobias Harris

▶ Age: 32

▶ Height: 6-8

▶ Weight: 226

▶ Analysis: Harris was the Pistons’ biggest acquisition this offseason. In July, he signed a two-year, $52 million contract, ending his 5½-year tenure with the Philadelphia 76ers. Harris will be a veteran leader and a prominent voice in the Pistons locker room.

However, his biggest impact will be his production on the court as a reliable two-way player who can improve the Pistons’ 3-point shooting. During his time playing with the 76ers, Harris shot 37.4% on catch-and-shoot three-point field goals. His best came during the 2020-21 season, when he shot 43.2% on catch-and-shoot 3-pointers. Harris has averaged 16.3 points in his career.

Ron Holland II

▶ Age: 19

▶ Height: 6-8

▶ Weight: 206

▶ Analysis: Holland joined the Pistons as their top pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Although he showed his potential during the Las Vegas Summer League tournament, Holland needed a preseason game to work out a vital role within the Bickerstaff rotation. In the Pistons’ 120-87 preseason win over the Bucks, Holland finished the game with 10 points, six rebounds, five assists, a block and a steal.

The rookie prospect flashed his potential on both ends of the court and showed he could be a spark plug off the bench. Holland’s winning and competitive attitude could bring a different mindset to the Pistons, who have been missing over the past two seasons.

Bobby Klintman

▶ Age: 21

▶ Height: 6-9

▶ Weight: 225

▶ Analysis: A calf injury suffered during the first week of training camp could put Klintman off to a rough start to his rookie year. Klintman will begin the 2024-25 season on the inactive list, and there is no timetable for his return. However, Klintman showed during the Summer League tournament that he could be a steal for the Pistons once healthy, averaging 11.2 points on 42% shooting from the field, 41.9 3-point shooting % and 7.2 rebounds in five games.

Paul Reed

▶ Age: 25

▶ Height: 6-9

▶ Weight: 210

▶ Analysis: During media day, Reed said he believed the Sixers didn’t do enough to utilize his talent during his four-year career with the franchise. After signing with the Pistons as a free agent in July, Reed believed joining Detroit would create a more prominent role.

However, after the preseason, Reed could be in the same situation. He played in each of the Pistons’ exhibition games, but averaged 11.2 minutes. Last season, Reed gave the Sixers a significant boost in Joel Embiid’s absence. In March, Reed had a career-best 30 points and 13 rebounds in a loss to the Denver Nuggets.

Cole Swider

▶ Age: 25

▶ Height: 6-8

▶ Weight: 220

▶ Analysis: Swider is a newly acquired forward that the Pistons signed to a two-way contract on Monday morning. He joins Detroit after spending the preseason and training camp with the Indiana Pacers, where he averaged 7.8 points and 3.5 rebounds in four exhibition games.

Last season as a member of the G League’s Sioux Falls Skyforce, Swider averaged 24.9 points, 8.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 14 games. The Skyforce is the G League team of the Miami Heat.

Dare Thompson

▶ Age: 21

▶ Height: 6-6

▶ Weight: 205

▶ Analysis: Due to his continued recovery from a blood clot, Thompson will eventually return to the lineup. However, he will not return until cleared by the League and the Players Association.

Thompson has yet to participate in any team activities on the court, but Bickerstaff has an idea of ​​how he will use the second-year prospect after a promising rookie year. Before his season ended due to illness, Thompson averaged 8.8 points and 6.4 rebounds in 63 games.

big ones

Jalen Duren

▶ Age: 20

▶ Height: 6-10

▶ Weight: 250

▶ Analysis: The Pistons could have a handful of candidates who could have a big year next season, and Duren is near the top of the list. During the 2023-24 season, he averaged a double-double of 13.8 points and 11.6 rebounds in 61 games. He finished the season fifth in rebounds per game.

Duren has expressed his desire to take the helm as the Pistons’ defensive anchor and rim protector, a goal the third-year big believes he can accomplish playing within Bickerstaff’s defensive scheme.

Isaiah Stewart

▶ Age: 23

▶ Height: 6-8

▶ Weight: 250

▶ Analysis: Stewart will continue to lead the Pistons this season, reprising his role as center. He spent most of last season playing in the forward position, and while he is productive, Stewart feels that playing the five gives him an advantage over his opponents.

Stewart believes he has an advantage because of his better 3-point shooting. A handful of big men don’t like to come off the perimeter on the defensive end. Last season, Stewart shot a career-best 38.3 percent from deep while averaging 10.9 points.

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