The Bright Future of the Detroit Pistons
The 2010's were largely disappointing for fans of the Detroit Pistons. With two playoff appearances and four coaching changes, Detroit struggled to consistently contend for the playoffs after what was an extremely successful 2000's. However, since the disastrous Blake Griffin trade to Detroit back in 2018, General Manager Troy Weaver and the Pistons have firmly cemented themselves as a rebuilding franchise with a promising future. Although there’s still a lot of work to be done, Detroit has a strong young core made possible by smart drafting, sneaky trading, and some luck.
The Pistons struck gold in the 2021 draft lottery by obtaining the first overall pick and capitalized by selecting Cade Cunningham. Cunningham is clearly the centerpiece and has exceeded expectations thus far, commanding the offense in an effective and mature way. Cade had an outstanding rookie season, posting averages of 17.4 points, five-and-a-half rebounds, and five point six assists all while finishing third in the Rookie of the Year race. Going into his second year, he is expected to be the centerpiece heading into this new era of Pistons basketball.
Second year swingman Saddiq Bey has also solidified himself as a longterm starter with his scoring ability and stout defense. Bey is a great fit alongside Cunningham for a variety of reasons. His durability, for instance, is exceptional. He was one of five players in the NBA to appear in every game for his team this season, and if his presence can remain consistent, the Pistons don't have to worry about filling a starting wing spot for a decade.
Although third year center Isaiah Stewart had a great start to his NBA career, his six-foot-eight-inches height for a center and limited scoring ability could be constraints. Nevertheless, Beef Stew’s ‘Bad Boy’ presence and sheer effort have earned him the respect of being a long-term rotational piece on this team. He averaged an efficient eight and eight and could develop into a Giannis-stopper type defender.
Perhaps the one low point so far during the rebuild has been point guard Killian Hayes. Hayes was the seventh pick in the 2020 draft and hasn’t quite found his footing in the league. There have been some bright spots, however, as he’s flashed his big time playmaking and defensive potential. Although Pistons fans generally aren't too fond of Killian, the Pistons should give up on him just yet, as he’s still only 20 with a lot of room to grow. His 80 percent clip from the line is also a good sign for his long term shooting.
While those four are the most thought of young Pistons, there are many others who could make a long-term impact. Recent acquisition Marvin Bagley is only 22 and has fit in well with the Pistons in his young career in Detroit. Others like Hamidou Diallo, Luka Garza, Saben Lee, Cassius Stanley, Isaiah Livers, and others have also shown solid flashes in pro ball, and the Pistons would benefit greatly if one of them is able to take another leap forward.
While the Pistons still sit near the bottom of the standings, there's reason for fans to feel good about this organization going forward.
