The Detroit Pistons entered the offseason with a load of cap space and an agenda to turn around the worst team in the NBA.
They didn’t make the big free-agent signing, instead using their cap space on two veterans on expiring deals, financially pragmatic, but hardly exciting.
But that doesn’t mean we won’t see improvement next season, as Detroit will have some additions who will make an immediate impact. I’m going to focus on players in this one, but I do think you could argue that head coach Monty Williams will be the biggest addition of all.
Monte Morris will solidify the Detroit Pistons’ backcourt
When Cade Cunningham went down last season, the Detroit Pistons were left with a rookie Jaden Ivey to go along with then 21-year-old Killian Hayes and veteran Cory Joseph as their point guards.
Ivey struggled with turnovers, which you would expect, Hayes struggled to shoot the ball (also expected) and Cory Joseph played adequately as the third point guard.
With Morris, the Detroit Pistons have more than a placeholder veteran to hold down their young group, as he can shoot the 3-ball, is a good on-the-ball defender and a guy who takes care of the ball with an outstanding assist-to-turnover ratio.
His addition is reminiscent of the Suns acquiring Ricky Rubio to help out their young guards at the start of Monty Williams’ career in Phoenix. Williams was able to turn that Phoenix team around and hopes the addition of a solid veteran guard will yield similar results in Detroit.
Ausar Thompson will boost the Detroit Pistons’ defense
The Detroit Pistons have been looking for a small forward for what seems like forever, a drought that extends all the way back to Tayshaun Prince. Seriously, look at this list. It’s like the Pistons were trying not to find someone good to fill what has arguably become the NBA’s most important position.
They hope that drought is finally over after drafting Ausar Thompson 5th in the 2023 NBA Draft. Thompson is already a disruptive defender with great instincts and hands who should immediately make an impact on that end.
The Pistons were 27th in defensive efficiency last season and it started on the perimeter, where Bojan Bogdanovic and Saddiq Bey were two of the worst wing defenders in the league, and rookie Jaden Ivey was often caught standing flat footed and out of position as guards blew right by.
Thompson will immediately take some of the pressure off Bogdanovic to defend the other team’s wing, and his ability to defend all over the court should be a boost to the guards as well as the bigs who will benefit from his weakside shot blocking.
Having an elite defender can patch a lot of holes and that’s exactly what the Detroit Pistons hope will happen with Thompson.
Cade Cunningham is going to blow up for the Detroit Pistons
But the biggest addition to the Detroit Pistons was already on the roster, as Cade Cunningham will be returning after playing just 12 games last season.
People seem to have forgotten about Cade, but they are already getting glimpses of what he is going to bring in his 3rd season. He dominated Team USA in scrimmages as a member of the Select Team, doing his best Luka Doncic impersonation in the process.
Cunningham has clearly put on some strength, which should help him endure the rigors of the season, finish more shots around the rim and take better care of the ball.
The release point on his shot looks higher, likely due to having two healthy legs, so we can expect a much more efficient Cunningham next season.
People are sleeping on what this addition is going to mean for the Pistons, as Cade Cunningham could be an All-Star next season as the focus of the team’s offense, similar to how Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the young Thunder to the play-in last season.
Few teams in the Eastern Conference added a player of Cunningham’s caliber to their roster, so his return should make the biggest impact.
With a new coach, better backcourt and better perimeter defense, the Pistons could surprise some people next season.