The Detroit Pistons fell short of the ultimate goal when the NBA Playoffs began, but their postseason coming to an end early gave them time to closely monitor the winning recipes around the league.
It's hard for any team, not just the Pistons, to realize how much success the New York Knicks have had this season with superstar guard Jalen Brunson leading the way.
At 6-foot-2, Brunson's size has always seemed to be the biggest reason he's been overlooked, and part of that narrative is exactly why teams never felt that the Knicks would be able to get over the hump with Brunson leading the way.
Fast forward to now, Brunson has a ring and an NBA Finals MVP award to silence the noise.
Just over a week after the NBA Finals came to an end, the Pistons selected an undersized guard of their own, whose strong suits closely resemble the same strengths that have made Brunson one of the most dominant players in the league.
Jalen Brunson's success gave the Pistons confidence to swing on Okorie
Okorie ever reaching the level of Brunson would be a dream, but how realistic that dream is unknown.
Still, what Brunson has done over the last few seasons and this year, specifically leading an NBA Championship run, has directly changed the narrative around the league that smaller guards can't win.
Obviously, Cade Cunningham is the face of the franchise in Detroit, and Okorie's arrival, nor the arrival of anyone in the league, will change that, but his development could be vital to just how far the Pistons can go, not only next season, but for years to come.
If Okorie can take a similar path to Brunson and find a way to elevate his game by using the same strengths that got him to this point and perfecting his craft, there's absolutely no reason why he can't emerge as a long-term running mate alongside Cunningham.
The talent is there, he's young and still has a ways to go in his development, but all the tools are at his disposal to be a legit difference maker in the Motor City.
With the Pistons' path to an NBA Finals appearance seemingly running through Brunson now, why not find a player who can not just attack opposing teams in the same way but give Detroit's roster a chance to practice against a similar style player on a full-time basis?
To think that Brunson was at least on Detroit's mind when scouting Okorie doesn't feel wild to say.
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