2024-25 Positional Preview: The Guards
Cade Cunningham leads a backcourt filled with question marks beyond him heading into the 2024-2025 season.
The Detroit Pistons’ new President of Basketball Operations, Trajan Langdon, made it known that he will build around the team’s franchise guard Cade Cunningham this offseason. With his new extension and free agency additions accentuating his skill set, there is some optimism Cunningham will take the next step to stardom.
The same cannot be said about fellow guard Jaden Ivey. His future with the team is a question mark, mostly in how he fits alongside Cunningham. The same goes for Marcus Sasser, who had a disappointing NBA Summer League. Playing time will be tough to come by given the free agency additions of Malik Beasley and Tim Hardaway Jr., who are also vying for playing time.
On the bright side, the Pistons finally do not lack depth at the guard positions. New Head Coach J.B. Bickerstaff mentioned he would like to stagger the young guards, which is another wrinkle to the roster compared to years past. With new management, a new coaching staff, and new faces on the roster, all eyes will be on the guards heading into a critical season.
Cade Cunningham - PG/SG
2023 Stats: 22.7 PPG 7.5 APG, 4.3 RPG
Cade Cunningham is the focal point of the Detroit Pistons, as he should be. Coming off his third and best season with the team so far, Cunningham signed a 5-year, 224-million-dollar rookie max extension with the Pistons this past summer.
Along with the big extension, the front office moved to surround Cunningham with vets that fit his play style. The addition of shooters like Beasley, Hardaway, and Tobias Harris plus the return of Simone Fontecchio will help space the floor for Cunningham and give room for him to operate. Finally.
Cunningham has the package to become an All-Star. He can score from anywhere off the dribble, create for his teammates, and has the intangibles to become a better defender while being a solid rebounder for a guard. The big question mark is how many games he will end up playing. He was just short of matching his career high from his rookie year (64) with 62 games played last season.
This is unquestionably the most talented roster the Pistons have had since the start of Cunningham’s tenure. With the improved roster, he has the opportunity to take the next step to push himself - and the franchise - out of the pits of the NBA.
Stat projection: 24.6 PPG 9.2 APG 4.1 RPG
Jaden Ivey - SG/PG
2023 Stats: 15.4 PPG, 5.2 APG, 3.9 RPG
The next Piston sent out? Long-term running mate with Cade? In his third season with the team, Jaden Ivey has these questions looming over him. With a shaky sophomore season, Ivey is looking to lock down his spot as the starting shooting guard for the Pistons, not only this season, but for the foreseeable future.
Ivey’s numbers took a slight dip from his rookie year, though this was somewhat expected given that Cunningham was healthy. However, Ivey started the year on the bench for former head coach Monty Williams, backing up Killian Hayes. Ivey’s downhill game was affected by the lack of spacing on the offense, and it was evident at times he was trying to make up for it. That resulted in poor efficiency and turnovers.
Ivey’s explosiveness and speed are mesmerizing to watch, but his ability to score efficiently from beyond the arc and at the rim will be something he needs to improve upon. His quickness should translate on defense as well, especially with Bickerstaff having experience getting the most out of guards on that side of the ball. He will need to improve to impact the game defensively. He has tools, but he needs to remain engaged and play with a higher IQ.
With a new roster that benefits his skillset and a coach that will not staple him to the bench, the time is now for Ivey to prove his worth. His maturity and cohesion with Cunningham will be important, but it is not the only thing to monitor. Ivey will need to be much more efficient around the rim, a more potent three-point shooter, and a viable defender. It is hard to call it a “make or break” year for a third-year guard, but it is time for Ivey to showcase his full potential before it is too late.
Projection: 16.2 PPG 5.9 APG 3.5 RPG
Malik Beasley - SG
2023 Stats: 11.3 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 41.3 3P%
A new addition to the guard room this offseason is Beasley, who signed a one-year deal with Detroit after spending the year in Milwaukee. Coming off his best season shooting from behind the arc last season, Beasley brings an element to the Pistons’ roster that was sorely lacking last season.
Beasley adds some competition to the starting shooting guard spot, with his ability to space the floor and a catch-and-shoot skill that will fit well next to Cunningham. Though the Pistons spent a top-five pick on Ivey, Beasley could be put in the starting lineup to begin the season because of his fit and veteran status.
Fans should not be eager for Beasley to bring competitive defense to the squad. His smaller frame and effort at times can lead to some easy buckets. J.B. Bickerstaff and staff will try their best to pull every ounce of him on that side of the floor. It will be interesting to see how they mix and match the backcourt, with J.B. indicating that he was looking to stagger Ivey and Cade this season. Beasley will be beneficial to both guards in their progression, and the Piston’s progression this season.
Projection: 13.3 PPG, 1.7 APG, 2.9 RPG
Marcus Sasser SG/PG
2023 Stats: 8.3 PPG, 3.3 APG, 1.8 RPG
Sasser is coming off a 71-game sample size, and he received a ton of playing time due to Detroit’s woeful season. He had some games that showed a glimmer of hope that there may be something there, between his fearless shooting and shotmaking ability. However, more often than not, Sasser would leave the floor with poor efficiency. “Streaky” would be the word to describe his rookie season.
Expectations for Sasser would be higher this season, but the suddenly crowded backcourt has changed that. The free agency additions, coupled with a disappointing showing in the Las Vegas Summer League, have likely limited Sasser’s playing time this upcoming season. The only ways Sasser will see the floor with any level of consistency is if there are a series of injuries, he shoots the lights out, or he can develop into a backup point guard. There is some justified pessimism in the two latter options, but Sasser’s sparkplug playstyle may keep the Pistons in a handful of games. But it likely won’t be many.
Projection: 6.8 PPG 3.1 APG 1.7 RPG
Don’t forget to check out our positional preview covering the bigs on Detroit’s roster, courtesy of Dylan Edenfield.