NBA 2K23 Summer League: Pistons Preview
The 17th annual NBA Summer League is right around the corner and fans all across the nation are eager for their teams’ young prospects and recent draft selections to take the court by storm. Many of these players will use this opportunity to prove their value on the hardwood and develop a rapport with their fellow teammates.
Hosted by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, this electric tournament will take place from July 7-17 and provide some much needed mid-summer NBA action. Each club will play five games during this time, four of which will determine seeding for the Summer League Championship Game on July 17. The remaining 28 teams will play their final game on either July 16 or 17.
Detroit Pistons Roster Review
Headlined by names from Cade Cunningham to Saddiq Bey, the Pistons’ lineup is undeniably a powerhouse on paper. Cade’s trainer and various sources recently confirmed that Cunningham and Bey will not lace up, however, both of them will be able to get reps in at practice and develop chemistry with the rooks. Rising third-year players, Killian Hayes and Isaiah Stewart, are also listed, which is a clear statement by Detroit’s front office. The fact that the majority of the regular season’s lineup is still making an appearance in the summer league showcases Troy Weaver’s vision of building around youth. That being said, these players will be given the opportunity to establish chemistry and learn from one another in lower-stake contests throughout the upcoming five games.
The Squad
Jaden Ivey
This rookie standout was Detroit's top overall selection of the 2022 NBA Draft and headlines the incredible rookie class. He will likely see heavy reps with the starting five and looks to showcase his athleticism, playmaking, and crafty finishing. From last Sunday’s media availability, Ivey seems to be thrilled and optimistic about playing with Cunningham and his fellow Pistons’ core.
Ivey will quickly discover that he must control his elite speed in traffic and understand when to pass out for better shots. NBA bodies only get bigger, faster, and stronger than those he maneuvered around during his days at Purdue, so being aware of help side and foreseeing crashing defenders will limit his turnovers and create more opportunities for shooters and cutters alike. If Ivey can make significant strides with this preliminary challenge and show improvement within his midrange, he will have met his expectations. All the highlight-play potential, from throwing to finishing alley-oops, are an added bonus that will classify the Pistons squad as a walking highlight reel.
Jalen Duren
The first true center prospect found his way to Detroit via the Knicks in a number of trades that went down over the past week. So why is he not listed on the official roster?
Due to the sheer volume of trades surrounding the draft and free agency, the trade only became official last night, and therefore, Duren can finally be listed on Detroit's roster and suit up in a Pistons uniform. We have yet to receive confirmation that he will play in the first game, but rest assured, there is no reason to worry as he will surely see the court as soon as he is able.
Duren is a freakish basketball specimen and brings a lot to the table for Detroit. At only 18 years of age, he was the youngest player in the 2022 draft class and possesses an incredible potential for growth. Mentored by guys like Rasheed Wallace to Larry Brown, the Philadelphia native can jump out of the gym and use his lanky build to make a difference on both ends of the floor.
Needless to say, the Memphis product was picked for his ceiling, in addition to his incredible vertical and rim protecting abilities. Fans will hope to witness this in his first taste of summer league action as the Ivey-to-Duren lobs will provide a short glimpse of a walking highlight reel tandem for years to come.
Killian Hayes
Hayes’ immediate struggles in the NBA deemed him a “bust”, when in reality, it is important to keep in mind that he is still extremely young and barely had a rookie offseason and training camp due to COVID protocols. In addition, his early injuries had him riding the bench for extended periods throughout his first two seasons. This will be his make-or-break season to prove his worth on Detroit’s roster after the Ivey selection.
The summer league is the perfect opportunity for Hayes to display his growth over the offseason - especially coming off a solid end to the 2021-22 season. From training videos, it is quite clear that he has bulked up and if this added strength can attribute to being more aggressive downhill and attacking the basket while continuing to be a defensive menace and creating for others, Hayes will prove a lot of haters wrong and solidify his role as a prototype sixth man.
Isaiah Stewart
Surprisingly enough, Stewart is the only third-year player yet to see any Summer League action. Due to COVID protocols and a foot injury he sustained during his Olympic run on Team USA, he was unable to leverage this valuable experience.
He will finally be able to play this summer, and alongside Duren, Stewart will also look to find and solidify his future role as the perfect bench center that comes in to provide the aggression, ferocity, and intimidation that embodies Pistons’ basketball.
Balsa Koprivica
Picked alongside Cade, Koprivica is a continued project that has improved greatly over the past season playing professionally in Serbia. The big man will share minutes with Stewart and Duren, however, this may just be another trail run to determine if he is significantly more polished and an NBA-ready talent.
Braxton Key
Key showed promise during the 2021-22 regular season and will continue to be given opportunities as he makes the most of them. As a forward with elite size, the Pistons reaped the benefits of his 8.6 points per game on 46% shooting. For a player to sign a two-way contract and have the immediate impact that Key has had, fans must definitely keep an eye out for this upcoming prospect.
Isaiah Livers
The Michigan Man can flat out shoot the lights out and he proved it when he returned from his injury last season. His catch-and-shoot abilities combined with his continuous movement and high motor along the perimeter deems him a tough cover for premier defenders on any roster. Look out for Livers as he will continue to be a difference maker on the offensive side of the ball.
Boeheim Brothers
Sons of legendary collegiate basketball coach Jim Boeheim were given opportunities to play in Pistons uniforms for the summer league and will look to prove themselves against NBA-like competition. This may not be a long-term investment, but rather a tryout to see if either of them are worth the wait.
Anthony Tarke and Justin Turner
Stepping up to Summer League action, these Motor City Cruise players will have the opportunity to lace up against younger competition than they typically face in the G-League. Tarke is listed as 6-6, 220 pounds and will likely come off the bench as there is plenty of forward depth. Turner will also come off the bench and must play behind Saben Lee, Killian Hayes, and other young, talented guards. Their time on the floor will be scarce, but that is all the more reason for them to be aggressive and make the best of their reps.
Charlie Moore and Jules Bernard
Both late pickups on draft night, Moore and Bernard will compete to prove their worth as guards in the NBA. Moore is undersized at 5-11 but is a speedy guard who has deep range and compensates for size with his crafty finishing. Bernard is much bigger, standing at 6-6, and will join Killian as the second leftie guard on the Pistons squad. Second round picks rarely possess all-NBA talent, however, if coaches see glimpses of potential during practice and in-game, these players could see an opportunity to be called up to play for the Pistons when, and if, needed.
Stanley Umude, Kameron McGusty and Kyle Foster
Umude is on a 10-day contract with the Pistons and must prove himself with the few minutes he will receive in order to see the floor in any G-League action. McGusty and Foster are both rookies who will also look to shine in the summer league, but with the depth that already exists at the guard position, they may just be roster fillers.
Final Thoughts And Expectations
This team has what it takes to make a run for the championship game this summer. Detroit’s schedule is not extremely competitive and if the right players step up at the right time, the Pistons could go 4-0 and solidify a championship seed.
The explosiveness of Ivey and Duren will be a treat to watch and all the action starts tonight at 11:59 pm EST on ESPN. Don’t miss out on this golden opportunity for this young core to showcase their growth and prove their skills on the hardwood.
