Detroit

Pistons

Holland made strides throughout his time in Las Vegas, and Sunday’s performance may have been the rookie’s best. The fifth overall pick shot over 50% from the field, leading the Pistons in scoring. Holland scored 20 points or more in his last two games in Las Vegas, and he shot 2-of-6 from three on Sunday. The rookie’s development as a shooter will significantly impact his fantasy value. Still, Holland won’t lack opportunities to show what he can do, as Detroit is in the midst of a rebuild.

Holland has been highly active on both ends of the floor in Las Vegas, with the athleticism and motor (10 fourth-quarter points) being two reasons he was the fifth overall pick in last month’s draft. The perimeter shot remains a work in progress, as Holland was 1-of-5 on Friday, but he’s willing to take those shots. And that can be a big part of the battle for a young player whose shooting struggles are well-known. Even with Holland not being a great shooter, he stands to be a valuable fantasy option with the Pistons rebuilding. The hope is that new assistant coach Fred Vinson, who’s well-known for his work with struggling shooters, can give Holland a needed boost.

The 25th overall pick in the 2023 draft, Sasser led all scorers with 24 points in Detroit’s narrow defeat. Last season, he appeared in 71 games for the Pistons, averaging 19.0 minutes, and that number could have been higher if Detroit had not begun the year with Killian Hayes in the rotation. While Cade Cunningham is Detroit’s point guard of the present (and future), Sasser is well-positioned to earn the backup role. That isn’t a great spot to be in fantasy-wise, but he’ll have streaming value based on Cunningham’s injury history as a pro.

After hitting three 3-pointers in his summer debut on Saturday, Klintman was even better on Monday. The second-round pick hit four triples and was also a factor on the boards, leading the Pistons with nine rebounds. Through two summer league games, Klintman has proven to be the jump-shooting big the previous Pistons regime hoped to make Isaiah Stewart. If the Pistons were to move one of their big men via trade, Klintman could have considerable fantasy value as a rookie.

Having agreed to a two-way contract shortly after the conclusion of last month’s draft, Jenkins was outstanding in Monday’s win over the Rockets. In addition to his scoring prowess, the former St. John’s guard also had an impact defensively. Jenkins is on a two-way contract, and the Pistons have multiple young guards in which they’ve invested, so making an impact in fantasy basketball as a rookie will be difficult. But he’s made the most of his opportunity thus far.

The Pistons have a bit of a logjam in the frontcourt with young big men, but Klintman is a player who fantasy managers should not sleep on. He possesses the perimeter shooting ability the previous Pistons regime hoped to get out of Isaiah Stewart. With Beef Stew and Jalen Duren under contract and Paul Reed in the equation, the rookie may need one of those veterans to be traded to reach his full fantasy potential next season.

Holland’s most significant weakness at this stage is the perimeter shot, which could be about a lack of confidence instead of poor mechanics. The rookie only attempted two 3-pointers on Saturday, but his explosive athletic ability put Holland in a position to crack the 76ers’ defense off the dribble. The hiring of assistant coach Fred Vinson wasn’t made solely with Holland in mind, but working with the shooting guru can help the rookie moving forward.

Reed was waived by the 76ers a few days ago, and now he’ll land in Detroit with two years left on his contract. Reed was once seen as a high upside player, but he was disappointing last season. He’ll have a chance to change the narrative in Detroit, though it won’t be easy with Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart in front of him. He shouldn’t be on the radar for fantasy managers heading into next season, but he is still worth a stash in dynasty formats.

Fontecchio began last season with the Jazz before he was moved to Detroit at the February trade deadline. In 16 appearances for the Pistons, he averaged 15.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.9 steals, and 2.7 3-pointers in 30.3 minutes. Fontecchio’s 3-point shooting ability should get him consistent minutes on a now-healthy Pistons squad, as that skill is a severe need. He may not be worth drafting in standard leagues, but there will be times when Fontecchio is worth streaming.

Beasley is moving on from the Bucks after a one-year stint that saw him bumped from the starting lineup in Milwaukee. His fantasy outlook isn’t great given that Detroit added Tim Hardaway Jr. to a cluster of guards that includes Jaden Ivey and Cade Cunningham.