2024-25 Positional Preview: The Wings
After years of futility, is this the season where Detroit finally breaks through at the league's most vital position?
It's no secret to Pistons fans that the franchise has had a decade-plus-long dearth of elite talent at the two forward positions reaching back to the end of Tayshaun Prince’s time in Detroit. Some of the names in those mid-2010’s starting lineups are enough to make even the most hardened supporter shudder. Kyle Singler, Josh Smith, Stanley Johnson, Tony Snell and Josh Jackson are just a few names that elicit an instant shake of the head for anyone who lived through that era. Even some of the more capable wings during that time, such as Marcus Morris, Reggie Bullock, and Bruce Brown weren’t exactly difference-makers when matched up against the better forwards in the league.
For the first time in years, however, there is legitimate hope that the Pistons could not just have capable veterans on the wings, but also a couple of elite prospects with the potential to hold down those positions for years to come. While reaching the upper limits of that talent will likely still take a couple of seasons, Detroit has seasoned players who can help to hold down the wing while guiding their younger counterparts in the meantime. With its mix of shooting, veteran leadership, and outstanding athleticism, the Pistons’ wing rotation should not only complement the rest of their roster but also provide a guideline for the future of the franchise. This season will likely be the time to see just how bright that future can be.
Tobias Harris- PF/SF
2023 Stats: 17.2 PPG, 6.5 REB, 3.1 AST
Let’s start with arguably the most impactful on-court acquisition of the Pistons offseason, who also happens to be one of the few wings to make a real mark for Detroit over the last decade. Harris has often been miscast, first with the Pistons when Reggie Jackson’s injuries forced Stan Van Gundy to try Harris as the driving force for their offense, to more recently with Philadelphia where he was asked to be the third option for some of the most fraudulent title-contending teams of the current century.
While the end of his time as a 76er has certainly left a bitter taste for many NBA fans, there’s a good chance Harris can rejuvenate his reputation during his second stint as a Piston. A 38.5% three-point shooter over his past 500 games, and an effective finisher at the rim, Harris should bring some semblance of stability and above-average shooting to a frontcourt that has severely lacked both since Blake Griffin’s wonderful 2018-19 season. His reputation as one of the league’s good guys and experience on winning teams should also bear fruit as a mentor to one of the youngest, most inexperienced rosters in the league.
Will he singlehandedly elevate Detroit to a playoff contender? Absolutely not. At 32 his best years are likely behind him, and frankly, he was never that kind of player to begin with. But he should provide a solid mix of inside and outside scoring, and unlike Bojan Bogdanovic from the past two seasons, a level of willing leadership and defensive stability that the Pistons desperately need next to Cade Cunningham.
Simone Fontecchio-SF/PF
2023 Stats: 10.5 PPG, 3.7 REB, 1.5 AST
Don’t be fooled by his less-than-overwhelming statistical profile, Fontecchio will likely go down as the best non-draft acquisition of the Troy Weaver era. In just 16 games with Detroit last year after being traded from the Utah Jazz, Fontecchio averaged 15.4 points and 4.4 rebounds in 30 minutes per night. Most importantly, however, he shot 42.6% from three-point range on 6.3 attempts per night. Despite the limited playing time, that type of performance landed him back with Detroit on a two-year $16 million deal. Whether “Tec-19” starts or comes off the bench, there’s no question he will have to play a pivotal role for the Pistons this season as a shooter and versatile defender.
The first part of those responsibilities is fairly obvious, but it’s the defensive end of the floor that gives Fontecchio the ability to be a crucial roster piece moving forward. At 6-foot-8, he has the size to reasonably guard power forwards. Still, he also has quick enough feet to stay in front of more perimeter-based forwards, as well as the instincts and intelligence to disrupt opposing offenses while defending off-ball and creating turnovers in passing lanes.
Detroit’s forward rotation is the deepest it’s been in years, with plenty of options at J.B. Bickerstaff’s disposal, but along with Tobias Harris, Fontecchio is the only player who will be a no-doubt constant in whatever lineups the Pistons end up sticking with this season. At 28 years old and arguably still improving as an NBA player, expect his contract to be looked at as one of the biggest steals in the league during this past offseason.
Ausar Thompson- SG/SF/PF
2023 Stats: 8.8 PPG, 6.4 REB, 2.0 STL+BLK
Here’s where things start to get interesting. Already one of the most athletic and high-motor players in the entire league, Ausar Thompson is a true mystery box of a player whose ceiling and floor are yet to be determined. His hustle and athleticism are without question, Thompson finished as one of the top 25 players in the entire league in steal percentage, block percentage, and offensive rebounding percentage last year, truly incredible numbers for a 6-foot-7 rookie.
Whether Thompson is simply a rich man’s Matisse Thybulle or a future star in the league depends on how the other aspects of his game develop and work alongside Detroit’s current star Cade Cunningham. Ausar shot a truly abysmal 18% from three-point range last year while sporting the NBA’s 38th-worst turnover percentage on only the 134th-highest usage rate in the league. If he will be successful not just in Detroit, but anywhere for that matter, he needs to develop a stronger handle and at least a passably below-average outside shot.
With that being said, there’s plenty of reason for optimism. Along with his defensive skills and rebounding ability, Thompson possesses significant passing potential. Yes, he has to develop his dribbling, but if he can control his turnovers, there’s real reason to believe he can become a secondary playmaker next to Cunningham. Along with his defensive versatility, it’s not crazy to believe he could eventually slot in anywhere from occasional point guard to power forward. And for all the hand-wringing over his shooting, Thompson does possess far more efficiency and polish than he gets credit for.
There were only 31 players in the NBA last year who finished 50th percentile or better in midrange FG%, drives per-36 minutes, and shooting percentage on their drives while also possessing positive ON/OFF court splits. One of those players was Tobias Harris, and the other was Ausar Thompson. Add in that Thompson is a tremendous off-ball cutter, and it’s easy to see where the path forward for him lies. Reaching his ceiling will likely require him to shoot somewhat sustainably from three-point land, but there’s no reason he can’t contribute at a high level in all other facets of his game in the meantime. Figuring out what that looks like will be a difficult, but essential job for this new coaching staff.
Ron Holland- SG/SF
2023 G-League Stats: 18.5 PPG, 6.7 REB, 3.2 STL+BLK
What to make of Trajan Langdon’s first draft pick? It’s easy to compare Ron Holland to Ausar Thompson, a long, raw defensive-minded wing drafted fifth overall with limited shooting chops and an extremely wide range of potential outcomes. Holland arguably sports the highest ceiling and one of the lowest floors of anyone in his draft class, but that didn’t scare away the Pistons front office. On one hand, it’s easy to see why they selected him, perhaps no team in the league had less talent on their roster last season. On the other hand, how exactly does Holland fit with this team? With his lack of shooting (24% from three with the G-League Ignite last season) a less developed overall game and body than Ausar Thompson, and a clear desire by Pistons brass to become more competitive on the court, it’s difficult to see a clear path to playing time for him before the trade deadline.
That might not be a bad thing though. Unlike in years past, Detroit has capable veterans who can stake a solid claim to playing time over Holland, and allow him to bring his game along slowly until the Pistons (probably) end up selling a few pieces mid-season. Ausar Thompson’s short leash was wildly frustrating for fans when the players replacing him had no future with the franchise or meaningful effect on the outcomes of games, that won’t be the case with Holland. There seems to be legitimate hope for him to develop into a decent shooter, as his form looked extremely workable during the Summer League. The key will be playing under control and maximizing the other facets of his game regarding his ability to score effectively at the rim and play mistake-free defense. It will be interesting to see just when and how Holland receives his opportunities this season, will he have to wait until space clears up in the wing rotation and Detroit’s focus shifts from winning games to focusing on the draft, or will his athleticism, hustle and clear upside force JB Bickerstaff to play him over some of the Pistons offseason signings before anticipated? Only time will tell.
Tim Hardaway Jr.- SG/SF
2023 Stats: 14.4 PPG, 3.2 REB, 2.7 3PM
Another familiar face for basketball fans in the state of Michigan, Tim Hardway Jr. is a player whose role for this season is difficult to lock down at the moment. On one hand, he’s coming off of five years with Dallas where he finished top-10 in 6th Man of the Year voting twice and hit 37.5% of his 7.5 three per game. That’s a skill set that seems perfect for a team like Detroit that desperately needs shooting, especially off of the bench. But much like Tobias Harris in Philly, Mavs fans were more than happy to move on from Hardaway this offseason, as he played himself out of the playoff rotation with an abysmal 49.6 True Shooting percentage and typically below-average defense.
So what to make of Hardaway for the Pistons? Frankly, not being good enough for the Dallas Mavericks during a Finals run is not the same as not being good enough for a team that won 14 games last season. But the Pistons also have a glut of playable shooting guards and small forwards, some with better track records (Malik Beasley, Tobias Harris) and others with higher long-term upside (Ausar Thompson, Ron Holland, and Simone Fontecchio) making it extremely difficult to see exactly where Hardaway fits into this rotation. The most likely outcome is that he begins the season playing a decent number of minutes before either being traded or solidifying his place in the rotation as other players are traded. Either way, expect THJ to find himself in the mix.