Tobias Harris
Best-case scenario: Harris embraces being a stretch four and increases his 3-point volume and accuracy. Most of his shots come from 3-point range and his totals are similar to the 2017-18 season when he shot nearly six per game and hit 41.1 percent of them. He averages 15 points per game efficiently and mostly from 3-point shots, plays credible defense and provides veteran leadership. His professionalism rubs off on his young teammates. The Pistons package his expiring contract in a trade for a star next summer.
Worst-case scenario: Joe Harris-light. There is no way Tobias Harris is going to be as bad as Joe Harris, but the worst-case scenario is that he has lost a step, but tries to take over as the Pistons’ leading scorer. He’s scoring 15 points per game but taking a ton of shots to get those points and most of them are not coming from 3-point range. The Pistons are then stuck with the final year of his deal that no other team wants.
Cade Cunningham
Best-case scenario: First and foremost, Cade Cunningham has to play more than 64 games, something he has yet to do in his career. In a way, this is all that matters, as Cunningham has improved his skill every year and there is no reason why he won’t play at an All-Star level if he’s in there. He improves his efficiency around the rim and becomes an SGA-like offensive weapon for Detroit. He thrives in the space created by his new teammates, ups his assists to nearly 10 per game and makes the All-Star team while leading the Pistons to a competitive record.
Worst-case scenario: More of the same. Cunningham puts up decent counting stats but does it inefficiently and has to miss a lot of games. He plays fewer than 65 games, doesn’t improve much as a shooter, and the Pistons start to wonder if they have invested in the wrong guy. Next summer is filled with Cade Cunningham trade rumors and he starts to get disgruntled that he’s being blamed for the team being terrible. The dreaded trade demand comes and the Pistons end up taking 50 cents on the dollar for their best player. He then goes to another team and immediately makes All-NBA.