The Detroit Pistons are 7-3. They are in a good spot after ten games, especially considering that Jalen Duren has basically missed the entire season. But not every Pistons player has met expectations. There are three Pistons whose jobs are on the line following disappointing starts to the season.
Ron Holland
In Year 3, things are not looking up for Ron Holland. In fact, he is averaging fewer minutes per game than in either of his previous two seasons. His usage rate, efficiency, and scoring have all gone down. He is still not a shooting or scoring threat.
Holland is still a difference-maker defensively, but he continues to be foul- and mistake-prone on that end as well. This points to a frustrating lack of improvement for the 21-year-old.
He still has potential, but it's becoming very hard to imagine it being realized on this Pistons team. The last thing Detroit needs is another perimeter player who is an offensive liability. Considering that Holland makes $9 million this season, he makes a lot of sense as a trade chip. Unless he can miraculously turn things around, he will remain on the chopping block until the trade deadline.
Tolu Smith
The Pistons are wasting a valuable roster spot on Tolu Smith. After Isaiah Stewart's departure in the offseason, Smith climbed up the depth chart to become the third-string center. The problem is, JB Bickerstaff clearly doesn't trust him in that role.
Even with Jalen Duren out for most of the season, Smith hasn't been a consistent part of the rotation. He is only getting a couple of minutes here and there. Instead, John Collins is playing backup center minutes for the Pistons. If you can't trust your third-string center to play even ten minutes off the bench when your starting center is out, then there is very little need to have them on your roster.
Chaz Lanier
Lanier's second year in the NBA hasn't been too different than his rookie season so far. The 24-year-old shooting guard is simply not getting any playing time, and it doesn't look like he will any time soon. In fact, he was just assigned to the G League, forcing him to miss Detroit's game against the Wizards on Thursday.
This is especially concerning since Isaiah Joe has been injured for most of the season. Even with a direct competitor for playing time and a fellow shooting guard sidelined, Lanier hasn't been able to sniff the rotation. He has been exclusively used in the garbage time, for a total of 13 minutes in four games.
At some point, it will be hard for the Pistons to justify keeping Lanier around. It's not like he is a young prospect with a ton of upside. He is about to turn 25. The Pistons may choose to use that roster spot on someone else.
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