Predicting Detroit Pistons’ Player Rotation In 2014-15

Brandon Jennings will get the first shot to be the starting point guard for Detroit. He remains one of the most frustrating players in the NBA because it seems like he should be better than he is. The reality might just be that he is a really fast point guard who can make plays, but can't shoot. The shooting part will be an issue in Stan Van Gundy's offense, which doesn't bode well for his long-term future in Detroit.

Jodie Meeks will open the season as the starting shooting guard just based on the contract the Pistons gave him in the offseason. He also helps improve Detroit's biggest flaw: outside shooting. He will get the nod over second-year player Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, but I expect to see both players get similar minutes.

It appears that Detroit is headed for Year 2 of the Josh-Smith-playing-small-forward experiment. This year's version might not last as long with Stan Van running things. He is one of the few coaches in the league that isn't afraid to stand up to the highest paid player on the team; just ask Dwight Howard.

Greg Monroe will miss the first two games of the year due to suspension, but figures to step back into the starting lineup after that. Monroe will have a lot to prove because he is going to be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year. His expiring contract also means that he will be involved in trade talks up until the deadline.

Andre Drummond is the only thing on Detroit that isn't unstable. He should fit in well with Van Gundy's schemes. There will be a lot of people comparing his role to what Dwight Howard did in Orlando, but I'd slow down a bit on that. Teams aren't going to feel the need to double-team him like they did with Howard. Drummond's biggest impact will be on the defensive end of the court.

Kyle Singler started about half the games for Detroit last season, and figures to be the key part of their bench this year. He should be able to excel in the new offense with his outside shooting ability. Singler's consistency makes him a perfect bench player because he can always be counted on when the team needs a lift.

The Pistons added a few pieces to their bench in free agency, most notably D.J. Augustin and Caron Butler. These two veterans will be important parts of the second unit. The biggest wildcard is Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. He had a subpar rookie season but led the Orlando summer league in scoring. KCP has a chance to crack the starting lineup at some point during the season.