2024-25 Positional Preview: The Bigs
The Pistons still have decisions to make with their frontcourt rotation before the season begins.
The Detroit Pistons have compiled the most complete roster the franchise has seen in recent memory. New President of Basketball Operations, Trajan Langdon, got straight to work in transforming the roster, adding several notable wings and forwards through the NBA Draft and free agency.
The big-man rotation, however, remains mostly the same compared to the last two seasons. Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart lead the way, with some fresh faces and more talented options behind them than in years past. Paul Reed has the opportunity to solidify himself as a rotation player, while second-round rookie Bobi Klintman could be good enough to earn minutes in his first campaign.
The main concern for this season’s big man rotation is how head coach J.B. Bickerstaff will distribute minutes between these players considering his notable experience coaching two-big lineups. Stewart and Duren proved to be a clunky fit together last season, which hopefully prompts Detroit’s new head honcho to experiment more with his youthful frontcourt.
Jalen Duren - C
2023 Stats: 13.8 PPG, 11.6 RPG, 0.8 BPG
Duren will not only be the X-factor of the Pistons’ frontcourt but will also play a massive role in the team’s overall success - or lack thereof, this season. He stepped in as Detroit’s full-time starting center in 2023-24, starting 60 of the 61 games he played in.
Duren’s numbers naturally improved with an increased role from his rookie campaign, becoming a consistent double-double threat and an athletic force around the rim. However, for every highlight-worthy alley-oop or offensive putback, there was a lackadaisical sequence from Duren on the other side of the ball.
To establish himself as an above-average center in the NBA, Duren must become a more attentive rim protector and show more defensive awareness in general - as he is usually the team’s last hope in preventing a basket inside. His verticality around the rim will continue to provide a boon for the Pistons’ offense, but Duren will have to be more than the second coming of Andre Drummond to hold down a starting spot in today’s league.
2024-25 Projections: 14.2 PPG, 12.2 RPG, 1.2 BPG - 65 GP
Isaiah Stewart - PF/C
2023 Stats: 10.9 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 0.8 BPG
Stewart, standing at only 6-foot-8 on a good day, has yet to find a true position in the NBA. Even in an era where the league has become increasingly positionless, Stewart has struggled to find his niche at either power forward or center throughout his first four seasons.
He began his career as an inside-oriented, undersized center who was able to hustle his way to extra chances for himself and his teammates. His shorter stature allowed him a bit more lateral quickness when containing guards, making him one of Detroit’s more versatile defenders.
Once Duren came into the picture, however, Stewart was asked to turn into something he hadn’t been before in his playing career - a stretch four. Stewart responded with an improved season last year after a disastrously inefficient 2022-23 season. Still, his 45-game stint as the team’s full-time starting power forward showed enough to insinuate he and Duren were not an optimal on-court pairing.
With Detroit’s new additions, it seems (hopefully) likely that Stewart will be relegated to a bench big role, which would allow him to play more fluidly and effectively. Stewart could be a legitimately solid shooter from the center position and would also have a chance to wreak defensive havoc on his opponent’s second unit.
2024-25 Projections: 9.4 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 1.0 BPG - 62 GP
Paul Reed - C/PF
2023-24 Stats: 7.3 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 1.0 BPG
Paul Reed was an expected casualty from the Philadelphia 76ers cap sheet as the team pursued Paul George, and immediately became a name on Detroit’s radar. A young and versatile big man who has shown flashes of starting-caliber talent in his short career, he was viewed as a picture-perfect fit for the Pistons before ever joining Detroit.
Considering the team eagerly picked up Reed’s $7.7 million contract, it’s expected there will be a path to a sizeable role for him this season. However, as an undersized center without much three-point volume, it’s hard to see how Reed could fit playing beside either Stewart or Duren.
The Pistons could experiment with Reed in two-big lineups, but it seems more likely that he will serve as injury insurance to begin the season. After playing all 82 games last season, though, it’s doubtful that Reed would eagerly ride the bench after showing progress each season. When he does step on the court, he should play a similar role to Stewart - as an energized and defensive-minded combo big man.
2024-25 Projections: 5.8 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 0.8 BPG - 52 GP
Bobi Klintman - PF
2023-24 Stats: N/A
Klintman was selected 37th overall out of Wake Forest as a 6-foot-9 forward in the 2024 NBA Draft. Despite being an unheralded name compared to the slew of veterans Detroit added during the offseason, Klintman’s explosiveness and versatility displayed during this year’s Summer League make him an intriguing option for the future.
He will likely begin his career with the Motor City Cruise considering Detroit’s suddenly loaded forward depth, but there may be a path to minutes for Klintman at some point this season. Versatility is king in today’s NBA, and Klintman’s ability to step into both forward positions or operate as a small-ball center could result in some experimentation with the 21-year-old’s role.
The Pistons likely plan to only use Klintman in spurts as a rookie. If he can refine his game as a face of the franchise’s G-League squad, though, he could be in store for a consistent role in year 2.