The Detroit Pistons have an up-and-coming squad with plenty of exciting young talent on the roster, including Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson.
The NBA as a whole is loaded with young talent right now, so even though the old guard of LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo still rule things, it won’t be long before some of the young teams start to make their mark and take over the league.
When ranking the best young trios in the NBA, we looked at current production and future predictions for how they might turn out, so a lot of this is speculation.
It wasn’t an easy task, as there are at least eight teams with young trios ready to show they are the next faces of the NBA. Where do the Detroit Pistons fall on the list? I am sure there is plenty to argue about.
Detroit Pistons: Ranking the 8 best young NBA trios to start a franchise with
#8: Portland Trail Blazers
- Scoot Henderson
- Anfernee Simons
- Shaedon Sharpe
The fact that Portland came in last shows exactly how good this list really is. Simons has already established himself as a reliable off-the-ball scorer who can get you 20 per game, but he doesn’t do a whole lot else. So this comes down to how good Henderson and Sharpe become and that is up for debate. Some see Henderson as the next great point guard in the NBA, while others see him as limited by his lack of outside shot. Sharpe is uber-athletic and was probably further along last season than people expected, but he too has some limitations.
#7: Indiana Pacers
- Tyrese Haliburton
- Bennedict Mathurin
- Jarace Walker
Haliburton is already one of the best point guards in the Eastern Conference, but the book is still out on the other two. Mathurin did make first-team All-Rookie last season, but really fell off down the stretch and ended up with far worse shooting numbers than Jaden Ivey, who should have probably been chosen ahead of him. Mathurin doesn’t do much but score on the offensive end and shooting 32 percent from long range isn’t great. Jarace Walker should make an impact right away, but projects more as an Isaiah Stewart-level role player than a star, though he could certainly prove me wrong.
Detroit Pistons: Ranking the 8 best young NBA trios to start a franchise with
#6: Charlotte Hornets
- LeMelo Ball
- Brandon Miller
- Mark Williams
I think there is a solid argument that this trio should be lower on the list, as LaMelo hasn’t been able to stay healthy and isn’t much of a defender, but he does pretty much everything else well. Williams should be a very good rebounder and rim protector for years to come, but does he have another level?
This will come down to Miller, who should be ready to make an impact in the NBA right away. He is the prototype of the two-way wing, and should get a chance to show it next season in Charlotte, as he was a perfect fit for their roster.
#5: Houston Rockets
- Jalen Green
- Jabari Smith Jr.
- Alperun Sengun
We are now into the area where you could make a case for just about any of the trios, as they are all very good and have huge potential. I am not sold on Jalen Green as a defender or leader, but the guy is going to be one of the best scorers in the NBA at some point.
Smith Jr. may have the most two-way potential of the three and I expect him to have a breakout season in Texas. Sengun is underrated and can do a lot of things, especially if they play him at center, but I do question whether he can really defend there.
Detroit Pistons: Ranking the 8 best young NBA trios to start a franchise with
#4: San Antonio Spurs
- Victor Wembanyama
- Devin Vasell
- Jeremy Sochan
There are likely people who would have the Spurs higher just on the back of Victor Wembanyama and they might be right. Vassell showed he can shoot and score last season, but can he put up those kinds of numbers on a better team?
Sochan may be the wild card here, as he is a do-it-all glue guy already and did make the All-Rookie team last season. But does he have another level or two? If his shot doesn’t come around he’ll be a very good role player.
This will all come down to whether Wembanyama can stay healthy and become the generational prospect that people think he can be. If so, you can put them atop this list, as he has the chance to be the best player on it and a perennial MVP candidate.
#3: Orlando Magic
- Paolo Banchero
- Franz Wagner
- Anthony Black
Banchero was the clear Rookie of the Year and Wagner is already an efficient scorer who does a lot of things that contribute to winning. Wagner needs to be more prolific and efficient from long range, but he quietly put up numbers next to Banchero last season.
The wild card here is Anthony Black, who the Magic selected with the 6th pick. Can he step in right away and run the team? Will he be able to use his size to become an elite defender? Can he shoot or will he be another Michael Carter-Williams? I’ve not seen much of Black, so the book is still out on him, but the other two are already very good.
Detroit Pistons: Ranking the 8 best young NBA trios to start a franchise with
#2: Detroit Pistons
- Cade Cunningham
- Jaden Ivey
- Jalen Duren
You could also potentially put Ausar Thompson on this list depending on how you feel about Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren, who both made the All-Rookie team last season. I know there are a lot of people rolling their eyes right now and calling me a Homer for having the Detroit Pistons this high, and you might be right.
But I believe in Cade Cunningham and that he has the chance to be the best player on this list. He was averaging nearly 20/6/6 last season on one leg before shin surgery ended his season after just 12 games. Cade has “HIM” written all over him, and with additional strength and a full season of good health (knock on wood), Cunningham can make the biggest leap of this group and be a candidate for the Most Improved Player award if not the All-Star team.
Jaden Ivey should be a great sidekick, as he improved as the season went on and was very good on catch-and-shoot 3’s, something he should get a lot more of next season.
Jalen Duren was not as raw as people predicted last season, and I think his overall ceiling may be higher than Ivey’s. He’s already a good passer, something Monty Williams will take advantage of, as well as one of the best young rebounders in the game. When he adds a little offense and starts protecting the rim more (it’s coming), he has an argument as the most promising young big in the game.
Yes, I am Homer #1, but these three have the mentality to take the Detroit Pistons to the next level and eventually lead them to sustained success.
#1: Oklahoma City Thunder
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- Jalen Williams
- Chet Holmgren
But it is OKC that has the perfect combination of current production and future upside, as SGA is already a first-team All-NBA player and one of the best guards in the league. Williams made first-team All-Rookie after an outstanding season that really came out of nowhere for a lot of people.
People shouldn’t sleep on Chet Holmgren either, as he is going to be an elite rim protector right away and a guy who will be very efficient around the rim. Don’t be surprised if he wins Rookie of the Year next season after the Thunder make the playoffs.