Pistons: Suns and Bucks have shown the way to the Finals for Detroit
Detroit Pistons: Now you need to find the right complementary star
It takes more than one superstar to win in the NBA. LeBron James could drag a team full of scrubs to 60 wins and a trip to the Finals, but even he needed other stars before he won his first ring.
The Suns were able to add Deandre Ayton in the NBA Draft and initially they were dragged for it, as they passed up a chance at Luka Doncic and Trae Young. But both Luka and Trae will be watching the Finals at home while Ayton just keeps swatting shots and dunking.
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I’m not saying he’s better than those two, or that they wouldn’t have been good on the Suns, but you have to give Phoenix credit for sticking with their guy as he evolved into that secondary star.
Same with the Bucks and Khris Middleton, who was an afterthought in the Brandon Knight for Brandon Jennings trade that ended up looking pretty awful for Detroit.
It took time, but Middleton became that second star to put next to Giannis, a lights-out shooter who complements a guy who wants to live in the lane perfectly.
If the Detroit Pistons end up drafting Cade Cunningham and he becomes their primary star, they might already have the secondary guy in Jerami Grant, who had a breakout season and would be the perfect number two option on a good team.
But it takes more than just stars.