Doris Burke summed it up perfectly in the first quarter of the Detroit Pistons vs. OKC Summer League game when quoting Cade Cunningham: “Don’t ask me what position I play, just call me a basketball player.”
While Detroit fans were already aware of the diversified skill set Cunningham would bring to Detroit, last night was the first glimpse of him in action, and how Detroit’s young core will assimilate around the number one pick.
Not only did Cunningham impress early on, but other pieces of the Pistons’ young core did as well, with Hayes showing more glimpses of refined playmaking, and both Luka Garza and Saddiq Bey immediately contributing offensively.
The most important factor, however, was how seamlessly the young group fit in amongst one another from the start of the first quarter.
Detroit Pistons: Position-less basketball has come to Detroit
Hayes and Cunningham both initiated the offense at points along with Saben Lee. Luka Garza stepped out of the paint and connected on a three point attempt, and Bey connected on two, along with leading the Pistons in rebounding, with twelve.
There were also various sequences where Hayes, Lee, or Cunningham initiated a specific play upon receiving the ball in the half-court, and got downhill off a ball screen, along with a few hand-offs into ball screens, which is very encouraging considering how little this Summer League team has practiced together. These sets coincided with a focus on spacing, which should only increase with shooters on the floor.
Hayes and Cunningham also contributed on the boards, adding nine, and six rebounds, respectively.
Although this was only the first game of Summer League play, it was encouraging to see pieces of the newfound young core showcase what they can contribute immediately, and to see how they’ll fit amongst the second-year players as well.
There’s been plenty of debate about where everyone fits alongside Cunningham, but with such a multi-dimensional skillset, it’s going to be important for him, and the rest of the first and second-year players to gain time in as many spots on the floor as possible, and find multiple ways to contribute.
While there will certainly be ups and downs, experimenting with numerous lineups and players at various positions on the floor should continue, and play a key role in the next phase of this era.