Current Pistons comparisons with past players in Detroit

Cade Cunningham (Grant Hill)

It’s not a clean comparison, but Grant Hill is a reasonable one. Both drafted at the top of their class with leadership skills galore, the two are also among the most well-rounded basketball players to ever suit up for the Pistons.

Hill, despite playing only six seasons in Detroit, leads the organization with 29 triple doubles. Behind him is Isiah Thomas with just five. There is a massive gulf there. Even more surprising is that Cade Cunningham has just two triple-doubles in his 138 games.

But I’m willing to bet that Cade passes Isiah this season and moves into second all-time among the Pistons. He’ll never be the machine that Hill was, but he might be the closest we’re going to get anytime soon. Hill was so athletic that he racked the numbers up quickly. Cunningham, on the other hand, provided he now has health on his side, will benefit from being surrounded by legit shooters, and his assist totals should climb.

It’s interesting to note as well that in between the Hill and Cunningham era’s, the Pistons had leaders like Chauncey Billups and Ben Wallace who earned that role. Hill and Cunningham had a de facto type of leadership thrust upon them given their pedigrees and the dark ages they were a part of. We can only hope that Cade someday resembles Billups and Wallace more than Hill when it comes to winning.

Ausar Thompson (Dennis Rodman)

While our Motor City Thompson Twin has only begun his career, his early calling card has been rebounding. Early in Thompson’s rookie season, the national media was throwing all kinds of accolades his way for his ability to board with the best of them despite being just 6-foot-7. Dennis Rodman was most certainly a different player but had that uncanny ability to rebound the basketball despite being undersized when compared to the best at doing that.

Thompson was only 20 when Detroit drafted him in 2003. The Worm, on the other hand, was already 25 years old when the Pistons picked him in the 1986 draft. Rodman was renowned for being able to guard 1-5 and although that seems like a stretch for Thompson, he should be able to matchup nicely with almost anyone he’s tasked with defending. The key going forward is Ausar’s ability to make plays for others, something The Worm wasn’t good at. Additionally, if Ausar begins knocking down his jumpers, this player comp will not age very well.