How long will each player be on the Detroit Pistons?

How long will each player be on the Detroit Pistons?

Rodney McGruder, 30, a free agent after this season

Based on his play, minutes, and contribution on the floor it’s very hard to say that McGruder will play in Detroit, or maybe even the league, after this season.

Kelly Olynyk, 30 years old, under contract until 2024

It’s hard to say if Olynyk will come back from his injury and play nearly as good as he was when he was healthy because he was having a very solid season in Detroit. He will be 34 when his contract is up, so if he gels well with the younger guys then he might re-sign at the league minimum for a year or two, but I could also see him retiring or chasing a ring with a contender. By then, the Pistons may be in the Finals hunt, so he could very easily finish his career in Detroit or be traded while they are still rebuilding.

Cade Cunningham, 20 years old, under contract until 2025

Cade Cunningham seemingly likes Detroit, wants to be in Detroit, and thinks of Detroit as home (although his Twitter bio still suggests home is Arlington). Pistons fans want Cade here as long as possible, and I think that can easily be the case. Most teams that get the first overall pick do not see an instant improvement, so as long as Cunningham and his camp see that the Pistons are getting better he should stick around. I don’t see a reason why an improving team will make him want to leave. However, if by 2027 the Pistons are not competing in the East as a top-four seed consistently, he might want to move on to a winner. At that point, it wouldn’t be his fault. Presumably, he did all he could to bring success back to Detroit Basketball. If the Pistons flounder away the first third of his career, it would only make sense he would want to leave and go elsewhere. Maybe he’d like to head home to Texas but experience the culture unique to San Antonio, although that might be wishful thinking on my part. Pistons fans should keep in mind that if he really is worth all the attention and hype he’s received then the Pistons should do everything they can to keep him happy, and if they don’t then it’s management’s fault, not Cade’s. If the Pistons are Finals-bound or close to it between 2025-2029, Cade’s number two will be in the rafters. If not, then he’ll make another fanbase very happy.