How Monte Morris will help Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey

The Detroit Pistons didn’t make a big splash in free agency, but the most important addition to the team will be a player who was already on the roster, Cade Cunningham.

Cunningham played in just 12 games last season and was putting up All-Star numbers before getting injured, so any big improvement the Pistons are going to make will largely revolve around him.

But they did get him some help. Ausar Thompson, the 5th pick in the draft, can handle difficult defensive assignments and give Cade another cutter and finisher in transition to target. Marcus Sasser should add more shooting and defense to the bench and both Joe Harris and Monte Morris can spread the floor with their shooting, something Detroit has lacked.

Of those players, Morris may be the most helpful to both Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey, who have a veteran to learn from and another target on the offensive end.

Detroit Pistons: How Monte Morris will help Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey

Monte Morris is a solid veteran backup point guard who knows his role and plays it well. He will likely be the first guard off the bench and play with both Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey at different times when their minutes are being staggered.

Morris can take some of the pressure off as a secondary ball handler, and as a career 39 percent 3-point shooter, gives both of the Pistons’ young guards another floor spreader off the bench. Detroit will always be able to have a couple of shooters around their guards, which should open up the floor for plays off the bounce.  Morris is actually a pretty good defender, so they can get another shooter on the floor without giving up a lot defensively.

Morris is a guy the two young guards can learn from, as he has a fantastic assist to turnover ratio and has been one of the best backups in the game when it comes to taking care of the ball, something both Cunningham and Ivey need to improve. Veteran “leadership” gets overblown at times but Morris has tangible skills that the young guards can emulate.

The Detroit Pistons will likely be somewhat careful with Cade Cunningham early on, as he is returning from surgery and may need to ramp up his minutes as the season goes on. Morris is insurance against injuries or just the occasional load management game for Cunningham if he needs it.

Morris may not be the most exciting trade in the world, but he is going to help the Pistons’ bench and both of their young guards.