The Detroit Pistons open its NBA Summer League schedule on Sunday at 8:30 p.m. (ESPN2) against the Oklahoma City Thunder. It marks the debut of Cade Cunningham, as well as many other interesting storylines.
This will be the first time a Pistons team takes the court since the NBA regular season ended in mid-May, with Detroit finishing 20-52.
Since that time, in case you have just returned from a desert island, oh yeah, the Pistons got the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft for the first time in 51 years.
The player they selected first, Cade Cunningham, will be playing, as well as two other draft choices. And the Pistons were such a young team, some key players will also be in action.
Lots of reasons to check out the game. Here are three important things to keep an eye on during the contest:
3. Big guys trying to be Steph Curry
The Pistons drafted three players in addition to Cunningham. Michigan’s Isaiah Livers is sitting summer league out with a foot injury but the other two, 6-foot-11 Luka Garza and 7-1 Balsa Koprivica, will be there.
Both players scored almost all of their points in college (Garza at Iowa and Koprivica at Florida State) down in the low post, a few feet from the basket.
But that kind of shooting will not fly in the current three-point crazy NBA. Andre Drummond scores all of his points close to the basket, how has it worked out for him?
Since the draft, the Internet has been filled with videos courtesy of Garza’s dad, Frank Garza, of his son working on shooting 3-pointers.
Koprivica shot exactly one three-pointer in two seasons at Florida State. But, guess what, he now can shoot threes as well.
He was 1/1 in his entire college career from three, but his shot looks really promising pic.twitter.com/PFm3iRaUuK
— Eli Bashi (@EliBashiNBA) August 1, 2021
Seeing if Garza and Koprivica can make three-pointers when they have someone in their face, trying to stop them, is certainly something to note. With the trade of Mason Plumlee, there might be some playing time available on the Pistons for a three-point shooting center.
Detroit Pistons: A lot of key players have something to prove
Pistons general manager Troy Weaver has said most of the improvement of the team this off-season, will be internal.
Usually NBA starters sit out summer league because, well, why wouldn’t they? However, due to their youth, and the fact they need to work on their game, some Pistons who should be in the rotation when the regular season begins, will be in action in Las Vegas.
Killian Hayes, who was the starting point guard for Detroit (when he was healthy) last season will be there. Saddiq Bey, a first team All-Rookie selection who played with the USA Select team (and temporarily with the future gold-medal winning Team USA) is also going to play.
Isaiah Stewart is not expected to see action due to an ankle injury, but one never knows.
Sekou Doumbouya was a first-round draft pick two years ago, and he was not a late-rounder either, No. 15 overall. He was expected to be a project due to his youth. Now, with the people who drafted him no longer in control, the project is coming due.
Doumbouya was on the fringes of the Pistons rotation last year. He had some good games but there were also times when he was on the bench.
This will be a big year for the longest-tenured Piston (yes, there have been a lot of changes).
First of all, Doumbouya needs to look impressive in summer league, he is facing less than NBA competition after all. If Doumbouya can stand out, it might help him be part of the Pistons future plans.
Finally, among the returnees, Saben Lee arrives fresh off signing a three-year contract with Detroit. At the end of last season, Lee had some impressive games. He took over the point at times and Hayes moved to the shooting guard spot, and they played well together.
The reason the super-athletic Lee was around for the Pistons to draft in the second round last year was his poor outside shooting. He worked hard during the season on his shot, and it did improve.
If Lee can show against the Thunder he can be at least an average three-point shooter, he would increase his value to the team greatly.
It’s time for the Cade and Killian Show to begin
There may be many different storylines involved in Summer League but there is one above all else: Can Cade Cunningham and Killian Hayes play together?
This is not a question that will be answered in the first game against the Thunder, but it is a question that will be at the top of every Pistons fans thoughts.
Hayes was the No. 7 pick in last year’s draft, so the Pistons have a lot invested in him. Hayes was drafted to be a ballhandler and facilitator. Cunningham, among his many talents, is also a ballhandler and facilitator.
Detroit coach Dwane Casey has said he likes to have two facilitators on the court at the same time. OK, but no one wants to have a player on the court who can not shoot.
Hayes made 35-percent of his shots last season. Not 35-percent on threes, but on all his shots. Over the course of an 82-game schedule, that will not fly. Opponents will simply ignore him and go double-team Jerami Grant or Cunningham (see Simmons, Ben) .
Hayes did improve his offense late in the season, and he has been working hard on his shooting since then. The Thunder game will be the first opportunity Pistons fans will have to see if Hayes can now knock down open shots.
Hayes and Cunningham will undoubtedly see a lot of time together. Both are smart players, and the future success of the Pistons would look a lot brighter if they do mesh well together.
Usually, summer league is for rookies and guys hoping to make a G-League team. However, the Pistons, due to circumstances, have this Sunday’s game with the Thunder begin an important week of contests for Detroit.