A lack of stability at the head coaching position has really been detrimental for the Pistons over the last two years. With Lawrence Frank taking over the position, they finally have a qualified leader who is fit to guide the team. He’ll bring an emphasis on defense that a team of mostly offensive-minded players desperately needs in order to be successful. This isn’t the best team that Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars has ever put together to say the least. Most notably, it’s missing a go-to guy offensively and a starting center. Dumars is going to have to look to address those two weaknesses. Until then, Frank and the team as a whole will pay the price for being without.

4th Place, Central Division

- Yannis Koutroupis

It’s time for youth to be served in Detroit, where Greg Monroe, Austin Daye, Jonas Jerebko and Brandon Knight appear to be the long-term face of the franchise. The Pistons finally let Richard Hamilton go, which was the right move, though bringing back Tayshaun Prince is a bit of a head-scratcher. In some ways Detroit is still a team stuck between the past and the future with an uncertain present ahead of them.

4th Place – Central Division

- Bill Ingram

The only real difference between this Pistons team and the one that lost 52 games last year is the absence of Richard Hamilton and a new head coach in Lawrence Frank. While Frank, a solid coach, can make something of a difference, the fact remains that this is a weird smattering of promising young guys and overpaid, over-the-hill veterans. I would rather have seen Joe Dumars let Tayshuan Prince and Ben Wallace walk away, amnesty Charlie Villanueva, and then let Rodney Stuckey, Brandon Knight, Austin Daye, Jonas Jerebko, and Greg Monroe play their brains out for Frank. Those five guys are the future of the team, but as currently constructed the Pistons’ future is much muddier than that. I’m not a big fan of this roster, and I think the team will struggle again this year, even with the new coach. Plus, the Central Division is going to be a tough place to live in 2012.

4th Place, Central Division

- Joel Brigham

At one point during last season the Pistons endured a player revolt which ultimately led to the dismissal of head coach John Kuester. Enter former New Jersey Nets head coach Lawrence Frank who now inherits a team with only two players (Tayshaun Prince and Ben Wallace) remaining from the franchise’s 2004 championship team. Veteran guard Richard Hamilton is no longer on the roster so it now appears the Pistons have decided to fully invest in the youth movement. Second year center Greg Monroe and third year forward Austin Daye are being counted on to make huge leaps this season. Rookie point guard Brandon Knight, the No. 8 pick in the 2011 draft, may be the floor general Detroit has been seeking the past few years. There is talent in Motown, but not enough to compete for a playoff spot in 2012.

4th Place, Central Division

- Lang Greene

The Detroit Pistons finally have an identity. For awhile, it seemed the Pistons were unsure whether they wanted to be a young team with promising players or a veteran team with playoff aspirations. Now, after waiving Richard Hamilton and letting Tracy McGrady walk, they’ve clearly chosen the rebuilding route. Detroit has a talented young core that features Greg Monroe, Brandon Knight, Austin Daye, Jonas Jerebko, Kyle Singler and Vernon Macklin. Several veterans are still on the roster, but it’s clear the focus will be on the future. The team’s biggest offseason addition may have been Lawrence Frank, who was hired in July. He’ll distribute minutes properly and win over the locker room, which John Kuester wasn’t able to do during his brief stint in Detroit. Even with the changes the Pistons have made, they’ll likely finish right around 30 wins for the second straight season.

4th Place, Central Division

- Alex Kennedy

Top Offensive Player: Ben Gordon. Since signing with the Pistons in 2009, Gordon’s production has fallen off. He was emerging as one of the best scorers in the league during his stint with the Chicago Bulls, but his average decreased after the change of scenery because his minutes and shot attempts were down. Now, with Richard Hamilton no longer on the roster, Gordon will likely move into the starting lineup and have every opportunity to become a focal point of the Pistons’ offense. Last season, he had the highest three-point shooting percentage and adjusted field goal percentage among Detroit’s guards. With more minutes and touches this season, he should become a top option for the Pistons and increase his scoring average.

Top Defensive Player: Greg Monroe. Last year, Monroe led the Pistons in steals and improved as a shot blocker in the final months of the season. Ben Wallace was a productive defender last season, but the 37-year-old’s minutes and role will likely diminish going forward. Monroe only started 48 games during his rookie season, but he should be the full-time starter this year. Detroit isn’t the defensive powerhouse they were several years ago. In fact, they gave up the highest field goal percentage of any team in the league last season. Monroe may be their top defensive player this season, but there’s no question they have a long way to go as a team.

Top Playmaker: Rodney Stuckey. Detroit hasn’t re-signed Stuckey just yet, but that’s because the Pistons don’t want to bid against themselves. The 25-year-old is a restricted free agent and Detroit would much rather match an offer sheet for the point guard than overpay for his services. If Stuckey re-signs with the team, he’ll be the top playmaker on the roster. Even though Stuckey is more of a scoring guard, he’s improving as a passer. Last season, he averaged a career-high 5.2 assists per game and that number will likely continue to improve this year with a set rotation. Detroit’s starting lineup was a revolving door of players last season, with every player on the roster starting at least one game. That made Stuckey’s job difficult, but he played well under those circumstances.

Top Clutch Player: Will Bynum. Statistically, Bynum is one of the top clutch performers in the league. He finished top ten in production per 48 minutes of clutch time last year, ahead of players like Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony. Not only does he score during crunch time, he also leads the league in clutch steals. His assists and rebounds also increase in the final minutes of close games. Bynum isn’t known for his clutch play, but the numbers show that he’s one of the best in the league when his team needs him most.

The Unheralded Player: Austin Daye. Entering his third season in the league, Daye will continue improving as a player while being a significant contributor for the Pistons. The hiring of Lawrence Frank will help Daye reach his full potential because John Kuester struggled to develop the young talent on the roster last year. Detroit’s decision to re-sign Tayshaun Prince will continue to limit Daye’s minutes, but he should have a bigger role this season. He spent the offseason working out at Impact Basketball in Las Vegas and he continues to expand his game. Daye is capable of making an impact on both ends of the court and could be Detroit’s breakout player this year.

Best New Addition: Brandon Knight. The Pistons weren’t active in free agency, but they did add one of the top prospects in this year’s draft class. Knight slipped on draft day and Detroit was able to select him with the eighth overall pick. He’s been on the NBA’s radar since high school and led Kentucky to the Final Four last season. At 20 years old, Knight’s game is still raw, but he’ll be a difference maker down the road.

- Alex Kennedy

 1 – Tayshaun Prince – Entering the offseason, Prince’s departure seemed to be a foregone conclusion. He was frustrated for much of last season and there were a number of contenders who were interested in him. However, Prince ultimately decided to re-sign with Detroit, inking a four-year, $27 million deal last week. Now, he’ll do his best to mentor the Pistons’ young talent and help the team fight for a playoff berth in the competitive Eastern Conference. Prince butted heads with John Kuester last season, but he should flourish under a new head coach and system.

 2 – Ben Gordon – With Richard Hamilton out of the picture, this is Gordon’s time to shine. Until now, he has struggled in Detroit, but that should change with a clear-cut role this season. At 28 years old, Gordon is in his prime and should be able to increase his numbers across the board now that he’ll be in the starting lineup. He has been buried on Detroit’s depth chart the last two years, but that should change this season.

 3 – Jonas Jerebko – Two years ago, Jerebko was a pleasant surprise for the Pistons. After being drafted in the second round, he started 73 games and averaged 9.3 points and 6 rebounds. Last season, Jerebko strained his right Achilles’ tendon during a preseason game against the Miami Heat and missed the entire 2010-11 season as a result. After re-signing with the Pistons last week, he’s healthy and ready to pick up where he left off after his successful rookie season.

 4 – Lawrence Frank – When Frank interviewed with Pistons president Joe Dumars, the two men put together a plan that would allow Detroit to once again become a contender. The plan involved building around the team’s young core – Monroe, Knight, Stuckey, Jerebko, Daye, etc. – and making sure everyone is always on the same page. That wasn’t the case during John Kuester’s stint in Detroit and by the end of last season nearly every player on the roster wanted the head coach fired. Frank understands that this will be a rebuilding process, but he’s determined to develop these young players and turn the Pistons around.

 5 – Vernon Macklin – The Pistons selected Macklin with the 52nd overall pick in this year’s draft and it hasn’t taken him long to win over his teammates. Macklin signed his first NBA contract last week and he’s already started proving himself during practice. Teammates have praised his hard work and there’s a legitimate chance he’ll make Detroit’s roster. Whether or not he ends up in the rotation remains to be seen, but he has impressed the right people so far.

- Alex Kennedy

Last season, the Pistons were one of the best three-point shooting teams in the league. They shot 37.6 percent from behind the arc, which was the fifth best percentage in the league. Detroit was also great at protecting the ball, averaging the second fewest turnovers per game with 13.01. The Pistons struggled across the board last season and will need to improve in a number of areas if they want to compete for a playoff spot this year.

- Alex Kennedy

Detroit was terrible on the defensive end last season, allowing the highest opponent field-goal percentage of any team in the league. The Pistons also averaged the fewest rebounds and blocks. Offensively, they averaged just 96.9 points per game, the ninth fewest in the league. They were also the fourth-worst free throw shooting team, hitting just 73.7 percent of their shots from the charity stripe. Lawrence Frank will have a lot of work to do with this roster.

- Alex Kennedy

My guess is the moves are not over. But we have to do what we can with what is in this room, and that means we need to have a point-of-emphasis shift in terms of how we attack. Greg, you need to become the focal point of everything we do. At least 90% of our possessions should run through you, with you hunting super high percentage scoring opportunities for yourself and for your teammates. We have a fair amount of length, and we need to use it accordingly, especially on the defensive end. Rip, you know the rumor mill as well as I do, and I know you can help any number of teams that might need a great two guard to get them over the hump. Right now, though, we need you to be professional and to help us make the transition as well. One day, our organization will look back at the way we conducted ourselves this season and say that this was the beginning of something special. It starts with you guys in this room right now.

- Anthony Macri

Can the Pistons make the playoffs?

There’s no question that a youth movement is taking place in Detroit, but whether or not the team can still compete for a playoff spot this season remains to be seen. The Eastern Conference has improved from top to bottom and it’s going to be difficult for any teams under .500 to sneak into the postseason. Last year, the Indiana Pacers were the eighth seed in the East after winning just 37 games, but they’ve improved significantly along with the New York Knicks, Milwaukee Bucks and New Jersey Nets. Lawrence Frank has exceeded expectations with young teams before, but the Pistons will have to improve last season’s record by double digits if they want to make the playoffs this year.

- Alex Kennedy