NBA Fantasy Preview 2021-22: Detroit Pistons

In a 30-part series leading up to the start of the 2021-22 National Basketball Association season, we will take a look at each NBA franchise from a fantasy perspective. The ninth team we will review is the Detroit Pistons.

The Detroit Pistons are in a definite rebuilding stage as they had the second worst record in the NBA last year at 20 wins and 52 losses. Their reward? The number one pick in the 2021 NBA Draft where they selected guard Cade Cunningham out of the University of Oklahoma State.

So where should you put the Sooners product when it comes to fantasy? Near the bottom of your point guards or shooting guards. The bottom line is that Cunningham needs time to adjust to the NBA game and you will probably not see instant results in year one.

Two Pistons worth taking a chance on are big man Kelly Olynyk of Toronto, Ontario and forward Jerami Grant of Portland, Oregon. Olynyk, who was raised in Kamloops, British Columbia, is one of the best Canadians in the NBA. Last year while sharing his time with the Houston Rockets and Miami Heat, Olynyk averaged career-highs in points per game (13.5), rebounds per game (seven), assists per game (2.9), and steals per game (1.1), for 1632 fantasy points.* He then signed a three-year deal worth $37 million with the Pistons on August 2.

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Another reason why Olynyk is worth considering in the middle of fantasy basketball pools is because he is expected to be a starter in Detroit. Up until last year he had 103 starts in 500 NBA games, and then in 2020-21, Olynyk started 38 games for the Heat and 24 games for the Rockets. Currently he is ranked 15th among centers and 16th among power forwards.

Grant meanwhile is ranked 17th among power forwards with 1591 fantasy points and 16th among small forwards with 1648 fantasy points. Remember, Grant’s fantasy point totals differ when he is a power forward versus a small forward because blocks are used in the formula among power forwards, and three-point shots are used in the formula among small forwards. Like Olynyk, Grant enjoyed a career-year last season. It was his first year in Detroit after three seasons each with the Philadelphia 76ers and Oklahoma City Thunder and one season with the Denver Nuggets. In 54 games, Grant averaged career highs in points per game (22.3), assists per game (2.8), and free throw percentage (.845).

*Please note: To calculate NBA fantasy points for point guards, shooting guards and small forwards, I use the formula (3PTM+Points+Rebounds+Assists+Steals-Turnovers). For power forwards and centers, I use the formula (Points+Rebounds+Assists+Steals+Blocks-Turnovers).

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