Detroit Pistons 2012: 6 Players with All-Star Potential

NBA players around the league are returning to their home arenas, lacing up their kicks and hitting the gym in preparation for the start of the regular season.

Finally!

The Pistons are no different.  They have much work ahead of them if they intend on improving their 30-52 record from last year. 

Honestly, given the inner turmoil that team experienced, its impressive that they won that many games.

A new coach, Lawrence Frank, will usher in a new system and, hopefully, a new attitude. Still, there are many question marks facing the Pistons. 

Like most teams, their opening day roster is not clear.  Moves could happen via free agency or the amnesty clause. 

Will the Pistons be in the Marc Gasol or Chris Kaman market?  Will they surprise everyone and make a run at Dwight Howard.  I wouldn't put anything past Joe Dumars.

Will Rip Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, Ben Gordon or Charlie Villanueva still be Pistons when the regular season opens?

Only time will tell.  What is clear is that the Pistons have some of the most exciting young players in the NBA.  This team is theirs now. 

2012 will be the year that the youngsters have the opportunity to make their mark—not just with the Pistons, but in the entire NBA.  The potential is there.

These are the Pistons with the greatest All-Star potential.

6. Terrico White

Terrico White is a Pistons highlight reel waiting to happen. Literally.

After he fractured his foot during his first preseason game and missed his entire rookie campaign,  2012 will be his coming-out party.

Your average Pistons fan knows very little about White's talents.  Simply said, White is a high-flyer.  He was known as the best finisher in the 2010 draft and touts a 40-inch vertical jump.

If there were any concerns about his foot injury impacting his leaping ability, he put those to rest during the lockout.  He became something of an Internet sensation. Videos surfaced of White putting on a dunking clinic, including this one from Rudy Gay's charity game.

Some consider him the best dunker in the NBA, and he hasn't even played a game yet.

Depending on the Pistons' opening day roster, White could see plenty of playing time this year. The Pistons owe it to themselves to find out what he brings to the table, and Lawrence Frank is known to give young players a chance.

White has the kind of game that could result in instant stardom. His dunks could make him a fixture on Sportscenter, which would bring him the kind of name recognition he would need to be an All-Star.

Despite the hype, NBA fans know that amazing dunking ability does not always translate into success on the court.  So, White will need to overcome the Harold Miner curse.  He will need to show that he is not a one-trick pony.   

If he can do this, then the All-Star game would be within reach. 

5. Rodney Stuckey

Despite putting together four pretty solid seasons for the Pistons, Stuckey's career thus far is often viewed as a disappointment.  I get the sense that fans do not think Stuckey has lived up to expectations.

That is what happens when you are drafted 15th overall and touted by Joe Dumars as the future of the franchise. 

Truth be told, those expectations were unfair.  Stuckey is a pure scorer.  He is not a distributor or floor general. Yet, he has performed admirably as a point guard.

But, NBA teams expect more than 4.5 assists a game from their point guard. It also doesn't help that Stuckey and John Kuester's relationship was as rocky as a Kardashian marriage.

But, 2012 could be a breakout year for Stuckey. Kuester is out, and Lawrence Frank is in. 

Regardless of coaching changes, Brandon Knight and Will Bynum will both be playing major minutes at point guard. Stuckey could be looking at more time at shooting guard. 

Released from the restraints of game management, Stuckey could concentrate on creating his own shot.  Scoring is what made him a star and the seventh-highest scorer in the nation during his sophomore year at Eastern Washington University.

He has shown flashes of dominance. He scored 13 points in 17 minutes during the playoffs his rookie year, and he scored 40 points against Chicago the next year.

Will the real Rodney Stuckey please stand up?  If he does, he might be looking at his first All-Star game selection.

4. Brandon Knight

Brandon Knight is perhaps the most exciting player the Pistons have drafted since Grant Hill.  He was viewed as a steal with the eighth overall pick.

He is being penciled in as the Pistons' opening day starter at point guard.  Needless to say, expectations are pretty high for this 20-year-old with one year of college basketball experience.

Why shouldn't they be? Its not like a rookie point guard with only one year of college has never entered the NBA and dominated before.  Derrick Rose anyone?

There have also been plenty of rookie All-Star selections too. Blake Griffin, Yao Ming, Tim Duncan and (guess who?) Grant Hill are the most recent.

Knight will get plenty of opportunity and playing time to prove his ability with the Pistons. The only question is how his legendary scoring ability will translate to the NBA.  Plus, he will be asked to distribute the basketball as well—a daunting task for any rookie.

Daunting, but possible.

If his transition to the NBA is a quick one, and if he can flourish in Lawrence Frank's system from day one, then Knight might find himself playing in Orlando on Feb. 26.

3. Tayshaun Prince

Pistons stalwart and team captain Tayshaun Prince has not escaped trade rumors this offseason.  I think it is safe to say that any player not drafted by the Pistons in the last two years has been included in trade rumors.

Most recently, the L.A. Clippers have shown interest and are offering their Michigan-born center Chris Kaman in exchange for Prince.

Despite the Pistons' need for a legitimate big man, I hope they hold onto Prince.  He has much more to offer than any current Pistons veteran, including Richard Hamilton. Prince is younger, he plays better defense, and he is a better leader.

Prince is a seven-year NBA veteran and has never been selected to the All-Star team.  So why now, you ask?  Here is why.

Depending on trades and other roster moves, Prince could be relied upon even more as a consistent veteran presence in a lineup of youngsters.  Hamilton could be traded or released. The same goes for Gordon and Villanueva. Ben Wallace will likely be there, but his impact on the floor is not what it used to be.

Some players flourish when they are thrust into the spotlight, and this could become Prince's team.  Out from under the shadow of others and with more offense flowing through him, Prince could have a career year.

I've always felt that Prince put up borderline All-Star numbers, but really lacked the notoriety to push him over the edge.  This could be the year that Prince finally gets the recognition he deserves.

2. Jonas Jerebko

This gritty Swede surprised just about everyone with the impact he had on the Pistons during his rookie year.  His talents have been compared to several Pistons greats.

He's shown the hustle and determination of Dennis Rodman and the attitude of Bill Laimbeer, evidenced by his preseason tussle with Jamaal Magloire in 2009.

Although Jerebko has not always looked pretty on the court, he gets the job done.  He is good at a lot of things, but not necessarily great at any one thing.  Often, his impact on the court does not show up on the stat sheet.

Regardless, he is the type of player that Detroiters love. Everyone anticipated his sophomore season to see if he would improve.  Then, fate threw him a curveball.  He suffered an Achilles tendon injury during the preseason and did not play the entire year.

With the injury, then the lockout, I imagine there aren't many basketball players more eager than Jerebko to get back on the court.  He has something to prove, and he's had the time to rehab, get healthy and work on his game.

His transition from the European game to the American game could finally be complete, and he could surprise a lot of people in 2012.  If he gets the playing time and can stay healthy, he might be able to punch his All-Star ticket.

1. Greg Monroe

Greg Monroe is the anchor of the Piston's starting lineup—whatever that lineup will be.  He is the only player guaranteed a starting spot.

As the fifth overall pick in the 2010 draft, Monroe was not the sexiest pick.  However, the Pistons had high hopes for him.  Despite a slow start in his rookie year, he finished strong and has shown steady improvements.

Monroe has to be one of the most versatile centers in the NBA.  He is a gifted scorer, passer, ball handler and rebounder.  Perhaps the biggest plus is his mental game.  He is smart, understands the game and rarely makes mistakes.

The knock on him has been his physicality.  During his rookie year, he did get pushed around, at times, by bigger, more physical centers.  That was to be expected.  Monroe lacked the time to develop an NBA body and increase his strength.

With an offseason and an NBA lockout, Monroe has had time to work on this.  Let's hope he used his time wisely.

When he was drafted, he was not viewed as having tremendous upside, but was predicted to eventually be a solid NBA starter.  Well, after only one year, he has achieved that, so there is no reason to think his potential isn't greater.  He is going to improve.  The only question is how quickly. 

He will be seeing major minutes, and he is a vital part of the offense.  If he is able to avoid the dreaded sophomore slump and take several steps forward, he could be the first "real" Pistons All-Star since 2008 (I refuse to count Allen Iverson in 2009).