The Detroit Pistons are one of the most pleasant surprises of the NBA season. The team has gone from the laugh stock of the league to a top-six seed in the Eastern Conference. Cade Cunningham is doing most of the heavy lifting, of course, but the reason everything is clicking into place is because Cade has the surrounding talent he needs to thrive. That includes a bench that has an intriguing mix of veterans and developing players. Shooters and defenders. It’s far from perfect, however, and the loss of Jaden Ivey in the starting lineup to a fractured fibula has made that extremely clear. It has pressed players into new roles and put a strain on a lineup that was already absent playmaking other than Cade.
We asked the staff of Detroit Bad Boys to grade every player on the Pistons bench at the midway point of the season. What have they done to get the Pistons to where they are, and what can they improve on to ensure Detroit plays for a chance to win its first postseason game since 2009.
We will also take a closer look at the starters later this week, but first, let’s talk about the Pistons bench.
Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images
Malik Beasley
Grade: A
What is the signature achievement of Malik Beasley that has led the Pistons to be above .500 halfway through the season?
There is a certain confidence the Pistons players have in their ability to come back from any deficit, and I’d wager a lot of that confidence is because of how many times they have seen Malik Beasley hit big shots in clutch moments. Shooters shoot, and Beasley is always ready to take his next open shot. He might not be the most efficient 3-point marksman in the league, but he’s one of the most dangerous. — Sean Corp
Third in the NBA in three-point makes from a full-time bench player? I’ll take it. — Ben Gullker
He’s brought a swagger and confidence to this team that we haven’t seen in years. (a decade?) — anon
That he yields a flamethrower and isn’t afraid to use it. This might be the best value signing in the NBA and Beasley has more than earned his bread through the halfway point of the season. His shooting is a massive boon to this team and his defense, though inconsistent, has been significantly better than anticipated. This team has desperately needed a bucket-getter for years, and I don’t know where the Pistons would be without him this season. — Brady Fredericksen
Beasley has always been a great shooter, but he’s being maximized in Detroit. His and Cade’s synergy is noticeable; they’ve already connected on 64 Cade-to-Beas assists (Cade-to-Ausar 54 times was DET’s top combo last year). — Brennan Sims
Malik Beasley has been one of the best shooters in the NBA. He has been everything you want and more out of a cheap free-agent signing. — Justin Lambregtse
The fun answer is his swagger. This dude has so much juice when he steps on the court and it makes him a true entertainer. His confidence and ability to back up his smack talk has brought a level of swagger this team has been missing for years – maybe since Brandon Jennings?
What could Malik Beasley improve on that will take the Pistons from solid Play-In contention to a top-6 team in the playoffs by the end of the season?
A touch more consistency would be nice as would the ability to not get torched on defense. He’s still a big net positive, but when his shot is off, it can lead to a big drag on lineup efficiency because he’s not providing you much else. — SC
Keep shooting but lock down defensively when it’s needed, even though defense is clearly not his strong suit. — BG
Keep shooting but lock down defensively when it’s needed, even though defense is clearly not his strong suit.
WIth Jaden Ivey out for the year, he’s going to have to become a better ball mover. I know his job is to catch and shoot, but defenses are hyper-focused on Cade and with the majority of Pistons’ lineups desperately short on ball handlers, Beasley has to pick up the slack. I don’t need him to try and be Chris Paul, but he’s gotta continue to make smart passes and keep things moving (as well as keep nailing 3s) in order for Detroit to take advantage of the unlimited double-teams Cade faces each night. — BF
I guess he could finish inside a little better, but I don’t really want him doing anything else but shooting the ball, so if he can keep shooting how he has been all season, the Pistons will continue to win.
His off-ball defense needs a lot of work. I’ve seen Beasley get caught lacking when playing off-ball defensively, whether that’s not rotating fast enough or getting beat back door on a cut.
Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images
Jaden Ivey
Grade: B+
What is the signature achievement of Jaden Ivey that has led the Pistons to be above .500 halfway through the season?
He has gotten better in all phases of the game and shown that he can be a long-term partner alongside Cade Cunningham in an effective lineup. His shot is dangerous enough to space the floor, his effectiveness inside is continuing to tick up, and his defense is getting better. It’s a shame his season was cut short, but hopefully he can return for a late-season run. — SC
40% three point shooting on high volume is a remarkable improvement, and I hope it’s for real when Jaden returns next season. — BG
His scoring and ability to run the show when Cade rests has been a revelation. He has played like everybody who had high hopes for him has said he was capable of.
Ivey’s shooting leap from 3 appeared like a real thing. Other indicators (longs 2s, FTs, floater range) suggest it might’ve been hot shooting, but every 3 he took felt good from my couch when he was healthy. Hopefully, he keeps shooting the skin off the rock when he returns. — BS
He is probably the most clutch player on the team and has had multiple game-winners this season. He was in the midst of a breakout season before the injury and really coming along as a reliable 3 point shooter. — JL
Shooting 41% from three prior to his injury. The big question of whether or not JI could play next to Cade relied on his ability to shoot the long ball, and he proved he could do it this season.
I really came around on Ivey this year and then tragedy struck as his leg was snapped on a freak play. I think his play late in games was incredible, specifically his buzzer-beater against the Raptors. He just found his way alongside Cade. I think part of that was Cade’s jump allowing for Ivey to play his way, but it’s also just a huge credit to Ivey for making himself a better shooter and a better player. It’s a shame it’s all over for him this year. — BF
What could Jaden Ivey improve on that will take the Pistons from solid Play-In contention to a top-6 team in the playoffs by the end of the season?
Ivey is a blur, but it is puzzling how he’s not an elite finisher at the rim considering his speed, size and strength. Of the 68 players shooting more than four baskets in the restricted area per game, he is 60th. If he can boost his FG% from 59% to the 70% range, the Pistons would be in an entirely different stratosphere — this season or next. — SC
Continue to eliminate the head scratching, risky plays on both ends. — BG
A heavy personal investment in robotic limbs.
Turn back time and let that loose ball roll away before Cole Anthony kaio-ken’d his legs. — BF
He needs to continue to become a reliable number 2 to Cade. He needs to be able to not only take some of the playmaking burden off of Cade, but continue to develop chemistry with him so they can play off each other. — JL
Rest, heal, and get that leg ready for the start of next season.
Isaiah Stewart
Grade: B+
What is the signature achievement of Isaiah Stewart that has led the Pistons to be above .500 halfway through the season?
A lot of credit for the team’s defensive improvement goes to head coach JB Bickerstaff. However, you need someone on the floor practicing what the coach is preaching, and nobody is doing that better than Isaiah Stewart. He is using his strength, positioning, smarts, and looking arms to bother everything at the rim. It’s been a huge boost to the team. — SC
Legos. — BG
I think his defense has been fantastic and exceptionally needed given the situation at the starting center position. When Stew checks in the game, 9 times out of 10, you feel it.
Just being a freaking dog out there, man. He’s the heart and soul of this team. Him and Cade have an incredible camaraderie and I think that has allowed both of them to become better leaders. People laughed when reports would leak about great teams like Boston wanting to trade for Stew. This is why. He’s becoming one of the best front court defenders in the league and it’s a big part of the Pistons’ improvement on that end. — BF
Beef Stew is on the long list of All-Defense candidates. Hopefully, he will play enough games and minutes to qualify for the honor in April (games played under 20 mins don’t count towards 65 GP threshold) — BS
He has been one of the best rim defenders in the NBA and is a crucial option off the bench in place of Jalen Duren, who is often very poor on defense. — JL
He’s a freak defensively. He welcomes the switch onto a point guard and will lock them up in iso situations.
What could Isaiah Stewart improve on that will take the Pistons from solid Play-In contention to a top-6 team in the playoffs by the end of the season?
There are two sides of the floor, and Beef Stew needs to understand how much his entire team benefits when he is a more willing three-point shooter. It particularly helps Ron Holland and Ausar Thompson, who he spends a lot of time on the floor with. Shoot it, big fella. — SC
What happened to that 38% three-point shooting from last season? — BG
I wish he would shoot the ball a bit more from 3. Nothing massive, but getting closer to 4 or 5 a night would be a plus, he’s shown he’s capable of it.
I’d love to see him start getting up more threes. This franchise spent literal years molding his jumper and now he just kind of has stopped in the new scheme. I don’t know if Fred Vinson is doing more work on that jumper in practice or what, but it’s not like JBB’s system restricts big men from shooting — see Evan Mobley. — BF
He needs to increase his volume of 3 pointers. His percentage from beyond the arc has gone down, but he is not shooting nearly as many 3s as last season either. In order to have value as a stretch big, teams have to actually be threatened by your ability to take and make shots from beyond the arc. I think some of his struggles from beyond the arc are tied to the fact he isn’t shooting nearly as often. — JL
He has been shooting more recently, but I want to see him shoot even more. Stretch the floor and pull the opposing center away from the rim to open up the lanes for Cade, Ron, and Ausar.
Simone Fontecchio
Grade: C-
What is the signature achievement of Simone Fontecchio that has led the Pistons to be above .500 halfway through the season?
There are stretches where Fontecchio is playing hard, rebounding, not trying to do too much, and hitting his open shots. It’s as great to see as it is rare this season. A shock after he looked so comfortable in a complementary role on the Pistons last season. — SC
He’s starting to round back into shape, thankfully. I think his recent resurgence has been a big part of the post- New Year run.
I don’t think he really has a moment. There have been some nice shooting nights, but by and large he’s struggled in this system. The jumper still looks silky smooth, but the quality of his shots has gone down. He’s also had to put the ball on the floor more to create and we’re quickly learned he’s not built like that. — BF
He has had a couple of good games off the bench I guess?!?!? — JL
The new bench celebration with the Italian hands after Simone hits a three is amazing.
What could Simone Fontecchio improve on that will take the Pistons from solid Play-In contention to a top-6 team in the playoffs by the end of the season?
Do less. Less of everything, really. Just run the floor, take open 3s and continue to let your legs improve until hopefully you have the strength and confidence to player closer to what you showed last season. — SC
40% three-point shooting is better than 35% three-point shooting, which may help explain why Bickerstaff hasn’t played Simone as much as I’d hoped going into the season. — BG
I don’t love how often he puts the ball on the floor. If he can limit himself to just catch and shoot, passes, or straight line drives I think it will be great for both him and the team.
You know what would improve Tek? A real backup point guard. He’s one of the guys who needs to be spoon fed shots. He needs the ball in the right spot at the right time. Unless he’s with Cade, he just isn’t getting that. So, while I’d love to see him just play the Tim Hardaway Jr. role with the reserves, he needs a point guard to fulfill that and get back to what he was. — BF
Fontecchio’s volume and role have diminished since last year. He’s trying to make the most of his minutes. It’s hard to be a knockdown shooter with spotty minutes—keep staying ready, Tek. — BS
Stop dribbling the ball and only shoot shots from beyond the arc or wide open layups. Whenever he has tried to do anything like create offense for himself or others, it has pretty much always been a disaster. Just keep it simple. — JL
STOP DRIBBLING SO MUCH. Just shoot the rock!
Ron Holland
Grade: B-
What is the signature achievement of Ron Holland that has led the Pistons to be above .500 halfway through the season?
The best thing about Holland is it seems like he knows exactly who he is as a player despite being so young. Prior to the season he talked about his positive and relentless energy and how he was going to make sure it rubbed off on other players on the floor. He also said he was ready to attack and do all the little things. You can check all those boxes, and he’s getting slightly better in a lot of areas of the game where you wonder if his last month of the season will show marked improvement. — SC
Instant energy off the bench. — BG
Ron Holland has exceeded my every expectation. His on ball defense has been very good, his shot is farther along than anticipated, and his ability to put pressure on the rim has been incredible for a raw, 19 year old rookie with a loose handle. He’s played a role for this team and generally been a positive in it, that has been a big win for a Piston team that has been in need to forwards.
I’m not sure anything stands out. He impresses me some nights with his burst and athleticism. His effort rarely waivers. He’s been the best player on the team on the break, just in terms of knowing when to leak out and being fast enough to beat his defender to the rim. Sometimes when he has the ball he gets reckless in those situations and goes 1 on Too Many Dudes, but he’s capable of scoring in those situations down the line thanks to his physical gifts. — BF
Ron Holland’s tenacity and dog mindset just screams Detroit Piston. His play in transition translated immediately, and there’s reason to believe his jump shot will be passable at his best. — BS
His ability finishing around the rim is very good, but especially for a 19 year old rookie. Anytime he puts the ball on the floor to get to the basket or gets the ball on a fastbreak, I have a lot of confidence that he will make the shot. He has also been a huge spark of energy in a lot of games where the Pistons start off slow. — JL
His ability to finish at the rim. He somehow is always able to find a lane with a quick crossover and then pulls out a nasty euro for a tough finish – and it goes in pretty frequently.
What could Ron Holland improve on that will take the Pistons from solid Play-In contention to a top-6 team in the playoffs by the end of the season?
If Holland could become a low-volume 3-point shooter that can hit at a 37% clip, it could create a lot of opportunities to get his defense and transition game on the floor. — SC
Holland is still so raw in every aspect of his game and needs a little more time cooking all around. Offensively, decision making and three point shooting stand out the most. — BG
Continuing to grow and expand his game as we’ve seen him do almost every game.
Keep learning. Reps will help him find his feel. Watching him the other night against Indiana, he battled Pacal Siakam. He got bodied and dominated, but minutes against players like that in high-leverage situations matter. Ron’s young and he’s flashed a lot, I think this year of bumps and bruises will pay dividends come 2025-26 and beyond. — BF
Holland can continue to attack the space defenses give him. If they don’t respect your shot, make them pay from deep or cut into open space when necessary. He’s growing game after game. — BS
Just keep building confidence on offense. He doesn’t get a ton of touches during most games and he has so far made the most of them. He needs to keep on being efficient around the rim and shooting like he has since the start of December. — JL
Be more of a playmaker. There are times where Ron puts his head down and is determined to get to the rim, but he has then missed an open shooter. He’s strong on his takes to the rim, but passing out when the defense collapses is something he can grow on.
Marcus Sasser
Grade: C
What is the signature achievement of Marcus Sasser that has led the Pistons to be above .500 halfway through the season?
Sasser stays a willing shooter. Sometimes that is exactly what the Pistons need. — SC
Staying ready to step into the rotation after your minutes get cut by a new coach isn’t easy, but Sasser has done that this season. — BG
I think he’s really starting to find his niche as a pesky defender and volume shooter.
I want Sasser to be great. I just don’t know if he can be that. He’s stepped in admirably in the wake of Jaden Ivey’s injury and he’s capable of hitting shots. That’s always useful. — BF
He has done a pretty good job filling in for Jaden Ivey. Obviously doesn’t have the ability to put pressure on the rim like Ivey, but he is not a natural point guard and has done an admirable job backing up Cade Cunningham. — JL
Managing to be consistent in an inconsistent role this season. He’s been randomly needed at times, but he’s still scoring the ball like we know he can.
What could Marcus Sasser improve on that will take the Pistons from solid Play-In contention to a top-6 team in the playoffs by the end of the season?
I don’t think Sasser is ever going to be any type of a point guard no matter what roster needs and his size dictate putting him in that role in Detroit. If he can’t ever really be a distributor then he needs to start either being an ultra-elite perimeter shooter or he needs to step up his game in a major way on the defensive end. He had a good reputation for his on-ball defense coming out of college, and I haven’t really seen it manifest in the NBA. — SC
Find a way to carry a little more of the load in the backcourt. His shooting numbers are great, but he sometimes gets lost in the shuffle and needs to be a bit more assertive in Ivey’s absence. — BG
The Pistons are going to need him to be that backup for Cade, if he can really grab those keys and run with it would be big.
He’s clearly not a lead guard and I think working toward improvement there is key. He’s a scorer and this team doesn’t need more scorers. I think his handle is too loose to really pressure an NBA defense at his size so improving there should pay dividends with his basketball instincts. — BF
Get more comfortable with running an offense. As I said above, he isn’t a natural point guard, but given that the team has no other ball handlers or players capable of running point outside of like Ausar Thompson, he is going to have to continue to improve at it to relieve Cade Cunningham a bit. — JL
Defense, defense, defense. At this point, he’s an undersized SG (which is fine!) so he needs to be able to defend both guard positions.
Paul Reed
Grade: B
What is the signature achievement of Paul Reed that has led the Pistons to be above .500 halfway through the season?
You put Paul Reed on the floor and he does things to help your team. That doesn’t mean I necessarily want him to start, but it’s good to know that if foul trouble, another big man’s struggles, or something else means you have to break glass and go to BBall Paul, you won’t really ever be disappointed in what he gives you. — SC
Being ready to contribute at a high level in the rare moments his number is called. — BG
Filling in admirably when injuries hit the center position. One might even say he’s outplayed a regular rotation big in his minutes this season.
Stepping in when Isaiah Stewart missed time earlier this season. I’ve always admired B-Ball Paul from afar, but I wasn’t sure what he could do in a bigger role. I still don’t considering he’s third string here, but his minutes are impactful. When Stew was out, he flashed a real ability to disrupt the ball handler on ball screens, creating transition opportunities. When you’re an end of the bench player, having an impact skill matters. — BF
Stocks, stocks, and more stocks. He has done a great job be a disruptor on defense, especially when Jalen Duren is struggling with fouls or playing defense. — JL
Similar to Sasser, bringing consistency in an inconsistent role.
What could Paul Reed improve on that will take the Pistons from solid Play-In contention to a top-6 team in the playoffs by the end of the season?
Paul Reed is having by far his worst rebounding season in his career, particularly at the offensive end. He’s too young to be surrendering so many available boards. Definitely something he seemingly could improve upon. — SC
I’ve been impressed with Reed when he’s had the chance to play, and honestly, he probably deserves a few more minutes ahead of Stew at least at times. With Bickerstaff committed to the younger duo, Reed is likely biding his time for a new opportunity. — BG
Just keep being BBall Paul when his name is called.
If Reed is playing big minutes, I don’t love the Pistons chances of being a top six seed. I do think he may be needed in matchups against a team like Philly, who the Pistons will be battling for playoff positions the rest of the season. Having more bodies to throw at the handful of elite centers in the NBA is never a bad thing. — BF
I don’t think there is really much he needs to improve on other than getting more minutes. He is better on defense than Jalen Duren by a long shot and although he isn’t the rebounder or vertical threat Jalen Duren is, he isn’t a complete non-factor in those areas. The only issue with a Reed-Isaiah Stewart center rotation would be the lack of size, which is why there is still a role for Jalen Duren. — JL
To continue to be a threat on the defensive end. He’s a great third big to have if there’s foul trouble or if a defensive punch is needed.