Pistons player preview: Isaiah Stewart is probably the best big on the roster

As the longest-tenured Piston, Beef Stew is a strong defender who has continued to show improvement shooting from deep year-after-year.

Isaiah Stewart is the longest-tenured member of the Detroit Pistons . He is the first player drafted by Detroit to receive a second contract since Andre Drummond signed his five-year $127 million post-rookie max deal in 2016. The man they call “Beef Stew” starts the first year of the four-year $60 million rookie extension he earned from Troy Weaver last July. He’ll also be doing it, at least initially, off the bench.

After playing both big-man positions his first four years in the league, it looks like Isaiah will once again be a full-time center under JB Bickerstaff – the position where most fans seem to want him to play. Due to his bruising defensive playstyle and his improved ability to stretch the floor offensively, is Beef Stew the best big man on the roster?

Offense

Offensively, we can expect Stew to shoot the three, and shoot the three well (hopefully!). After spending his first two seasons attempting under one three per game, Stew has averaged roughly four three-point shot attempts per game the last two seasons. He shot 33% from deep in the 2022-2023 season but shot 38% last year on a similar volume. Through the preseason, Stew shot 43% (3-of-7) from deep. Give me more of this!

While I can appreciate Stew’s efficiency from deep, I question how efficient he can be closer to the rim. There were times last year when Stew was putting the ball on the floor by attacking a closeout or trying to create a shot in the post, and it felt like I was watching a newborn giraffe trying to walk. I think he can do more by doing less: spread the floor and let it fly from three. It’s clear he doesn’t have the verticality and athleticism that Duren has, but let’s compare some shot types from last year:

Could some of Stew’s inefficiencies from last year be due to playing PF next to two non-shooters in Ausar and Duren? Absolutely, but I still don’t think Stew has the skillset needed to be an inside center. I hope JB puts him in the best position to succeed offensively, and that’s as a catch-and-shoot floor spacer behind the three-point line.

Also, maybe both he and Duren should stop trying hook shots.

Defense

When Stewart is in the game, he’s your defensive anchor. Need him to bump down low with big guys like Giannis and Embiid? He can handle that. Need him to switch onto Dame or Kyrie and guard them 1-on-1 in an iso? He can handle that, too. Need him to meet 7-footers at the rim? Yes, even as an undersized center, he’s got that handled as well:

Stew is fascinating defensively and extremely versatile. You could argue that he’s the most important defender on the team, and I’m not sure I would disagree – although, maybe Ausar already owns that title (get well soon!).

I don’t know if this is a hot take or not, but if Duren can’t make improvements defensively under JB, could we see Stew starting over Duren at some point this season?

Overall Expectations

Overall, Stew is everything it means to be a Detroit Piston. He would’ve fit in perfectly with the Bad Boys, as was evidenced by him being a wrecking ball when he chased after LeBron. However, we need Stew to stay healthy – he hasn’t played more than 50 games in the last two seasons, and I’m starting to worry that he may be an injury-prone player.

I’ve shared this comparison before, but I want to share it again: I think Stew is most successful if he plays like a bigger, beefier PJ Tucker. I want Stew to be a 3-and-D center who reaches 6+ three-point attempts per game and tries to crack 40% from deep.

The beautiful thing about this playstyle is Stew’s ability to fit with any other player on the roster. If you can shoot and defend, you’re an extremely important piece to an NBA team. If you’re a non-shooter like Duren, it’s harder to play with guys like Ausar and Holland – yet, because of how well they can defend on the perimeter, JD needs them on the floor due to his own defensive struggles.

Due to Stew’s ability to defend at a high level and his continued growth of being a threat from deep, he can open up the floor to let other teammates play to their strengths. At what point does that become more valuable than Duren’s ability to be an elite lob threat and rebounder?