NBA PREVIEW : DETROIT PISTONS, ALL MOTION, NO MOVEMENT. ALL HOPES STILL HINGE ON CUNNINGHAM.

The Detroit Pistons finished last season with the worst record in the NBA. Cade Cunningham’s return, along with the arrival of No. 5 pick Ausar Thompson, could change the team’s fortunes.

The Detroit Pistons were the worst team in the NBA last season. Such is life for a tanking team, of course, but the Pistons weren’t run-of-the-mill tankers. Former No. 1 pick Cade Cunningham, in his second NBA season, played only 12 games because of injury. That put a wall between the Pistons and progress.

Cunningham’s return infuses the 2023-24 season with more optimism. The Pistons saw massive in-season improvement from 2022 lottery pick Jaden Ivey. Meanwhile, Jalen Duren was one of the most productive rebounders in the NBA as a rookie. Bojan Bogdanovic is a talented veteran who, if nothing else, will furnish the Pistons with another first-round pick or two once the trade deadline arrives.

The Pistons will operate under a new head coach this season. The Pistons shelled out a six-year, $78.5 million contract to lure Monty Williams to the Detroit sideline. Williams went to the Finals with Phoenix in 2021 and is one of the most respected coaching voices in the league. His wisdom and character will work wonders in a young locker room. He’s a natural leader and he’s a great option to chart Detroit’s path to relevancy in the Eastern Conference.

Monty Williams who led Phoenix Suns to the Finals in 2021 will lead the Pistons this season

New coach Monty Williams gets a young Pistons group that now needs to add victories to its to-do list of the recent past, namely development and talent procurement. Unlocking the right lineups and rotations while finding enough shooting to keep on the floor are reasons his contract is so rich and long, because it won’t be easy.

The real question should be, “How high is up?” because a 100% increase in victories over 2022-23 would vault Detroit … from 17 to 34, which still leaves them outside legit postseason possibilities. Something(s) truly unexpected could see them climb higher, perhaps, but it’s been five years since the Pistons won more than 23. One sneaker in front of the other is prudent and realistic.

The big new arrival for Detroit this season is Ausar Thompson, the No. 5 pick in June’s NBA Draft. While the Pistons’ fall from No. 1 to No. 5 on lottery night was a keen source of pain for the Detroit faithful, this was a good year to fall. Thompson will immediately become one of the most impressive perimeter athletes in the NBA. He’s not perfect, but he’s a future star who can make plays all over the floor, as evidenced by a productive Summer League stint.

Ausar Thompson is a potential All Star but time is needed for him to grow

STAR WATCH

CADE CUNNINGHAM

This isn’t just a calendar thing – Cunningham’s first two seasons have seen him play 64 and 12 games, a sample big enough to demonstrate his abilities but too small to have real impact. His numbers from his dozen appearances last season (19.9 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 6.0 apg), replicated over 70-plus games, would have him on an All-Star arc and the Pistons’ offense and growth on a fast track.

Cade Cunningham’s rookie season was a marvel. He averaged 16.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.6 assists on .416/.314/.845 splits in 32.6 minutes. His numbers were up across the board last season before injury struck. Now he’s primed for a huge breakout in 2023-24. The Pistons are still in the early stages of their rebuild, but Cunningham is the foundation upon which the next decade of Detroit basketball will be built.

This is a man who drew Luka Doncic comparisons before the draft. Those were always deeply unfair to Cunningham, but the Oklahoma State product does fit an archetype that is naturally appealing in the modern NBA. At 6-foot-7, he’s a wing with a point guard’s mind. Cunningham can defend one through four and run the offense. He’s not blessed with elite burst or explosive finishing, but he’s strong, skilled, and above all else, immensely clever.

Cunningham will need to improve his efficiency, but he is a potent pull-up shooter out to the 3-point line with a combination of strength and touch that makes it easy to buy him as a finisher around the basket. Cunningham operates with tremendous poise and patience in the pick-and-roll, subtly forcing his defender off balance with shifting speeds and side-to-side handles before uncorking beautiful skip passes or skating to the rim for a bucket.

The Pistons should continue to place stock in Cunningham as the No. 1 option. There have been roadblocks, but he’s one of the best prospects in the NBA and he’s still 21 years old. The Pistons have been willfully patient. As Cunningham grows and builds up a rhythm, the team around him will improve. Not many players come along with Cunningham’s intersection of size, skill, and intelligence. He’s special.