Detroit Pistons: What is a realistic timeline for contention?

It’s been a long time since the Detroit Pistons were good, so fans probably don’t want to hear that they need to be patient.

With a potential superstar in Cade Cunningham, fans of the Pistons are eager to see this team win, as we’ve been waiting and “rebuilding” for so long that many in the fanbase were not even alive the last time the Pistons had a meaningful playoff run.

But it takes time to develop talent and the Pistons are a very young team that is still a few stages away from being a legit contender for the playoffs and even further away from competing for a title.

But what is a realistic timeline for that to happen? It’s not going to be overnight, but the Detroit Pistons could get there sooner than you think.

Here’s how it could go down if things work out.

The Detroit Pistons will be a lottery team again in 2021-22

Detroit is not running their version of “The Process” but when you had as little talent on the roster as they did, it will take several drafts to make it right.

Troy Weaver traded Sekou Doumbouya, the final holdout from the last regime, so he now has a clean slate of only his own guys.

But with so many young players, the Detroit Pistons are probably going to be bad next season. I think they’ll win more than 20 games, but will still end up with another top-10 pick in the NBA Draft.

After next season they will have as much young talent as they need and will be in a position to make a move.