The Knicks have reached their first Finals in 27 years thanks to a revamped offense that's less reliant on Jalen Brunson to create everything. The Pistons need to apply the same principle for Cade Cunningham and give him more optionality to play off-ball. Adding another solid ball-handler in the backcourt could go a long way towards accomplishing this goal.
Moving Brunson off-ball has paid off for the Knicks
Like Cade, Brunson is capable of dominating a game with the ball in his hands. Both have made All-NBA teams with the offense revolving around them to score and create for others. But the Knicks wisely realized that such a ball-dominant playstyle has its limitations in the playoffs.
In previous years, Brunson often wore down over the course of an intense playoff game or series as New York demanded too much from him. Brunson has physical disadvantages as an undersized guard that make it hard for him to carry an offense through a whole postseason.
Cade might not have the same physical weaknesses, but he showed clear signs of mental fatigue in the playoffs this year. He had some costly turnovers in the clutch that lost key games for the Pistons. Even though the Pistons are often at their best with the ball in Cade's hands, they would probably benefit from taking some load off him earlier in games.
The Pistons need some changes before making the same change
The Knicks have been able to move Brunson off-ball seamlessly because they have ball-handlers at every position. Even their center Karl-Anthony Towns can dribble and pass like a guard. Comparatively, the Pistons are clearly lacking in secondary ball-handling options.
If the Pistons want to move Cade off-ball more with their current roster, it'll take some coaching brilliance to develop young players further. Ausar Thompson should be working on his handle this summer regardless, but getting it to a trustworthy place is a tall task. The Pistons could also use Jalen Duren in more of a hub role like Towns, but they would need to be careful about putting him in the right spots.
A more guaranteed path to less on-ball duties for Cade will be acquiring another strong ball handler. There are a few veteran guards available for either trade or free agency this offseason; the Pistons may be wise to pursue one of them. Surely a true difference-maker could be costly, but may also raise the team's ceiling to a true title contender.
The Knicks have been able to elevate themselves to the Finals by adjusting Jalen Brunson's offensive load. He's been able to pick his spots more smartly since moving off-ball - a luxury that Cade Cunningham can only dream of right now.
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