This season was not supposed to be this way for the Detroit Pistons.
We were promised a competitive team and instead got one of the worst in NBA history with a 28-game losing streak to bolster their resume for that dubious honor.
With the trade deadline rapidly approaching, there is some hope for change on the horizon, but that should be tempered by the lack of assets or realistic impact trade targets.
The Pistons aren't going to salvage this season either way, but they can start building towards the next one (sigh), a refrain that's starting to sound like "Wait until next year!" did for the Chicago Cubs for over a century.
But there are still things fans would like to see (I can't speak for all of them) and things we definitely don't want to see as this season mercifully gets closer to its completion.
The Detroit Pistons' offense
Want to see: More ball movement
We heard all about Monty Williams' .5 offense all summer, but have seen painfully little of it this season. The Pistons are middle of the pack in assists, so they do share the ball, but are often confined to watching Cade Cunningham dribble in the half-court.
They had their best game of the season against the OKC Thunder with Cade out, and the ball and players were moving more freely. Let's see more of that.
Don't want to see: Cade Cunningham dribbling for 20 seconds
Cade plays a patient, smart game but the whole offense doesn't have to revolve around just him. I absolutely hate watching Cade dribble, go under the hoop and emerge on the other side while everyone stands around.
He can be just as effective giving up the ball early, running a real offense and attacking when he gets it later in the possession, hopefully in a better spot to make his move. Otherwise, the Pistons are very easy to defend in the half-court. I'd love to see more of Cade on the wing the way theCeltics use Jayson Tatum.
Want to see: More of Monte Morris and Marcus Sasser
The Detroit Pistons traded up to get Sasser, which was a questionable move given their need at forward, but it's done, so they may as well use him.
He can get buckets off the bench, create for himself and is one of the team's best 3-point shooters. He's also under contract for the foreseeable future. He should be getting 20 minutes per game off the bench.
Monte Morris is on an expiring deal, but there is a good chance the Pistons bring him back as the veteran backup point guard they need. He was shaky at first, but we've already seen glimpses of how his cool demeanor and shot-making can help the second unit. We need to see more of it to know if he's worth keeping around.
Don't want to see: Killian Hayes
It's over. He hasn't gotten any better and he's not under contract for next season. End it already.
Want to see: Staggering of Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey
Both Jaden Ivey and Cade Cunningham thrive with the ball in their hands, which is why some have questioned their ultimate fit as a backcourt. The way to mitigate these issues is by staggering the two players so that one of them is almost always on the court. This will give Ivey a chance to play freely as the lead ball handler and give Cade the chance to play off the ball with Monte Morris or with a 3-point threat in Marcus Sasser.
Don't want to see: All bench units
The bench has been better of late, but for most of the season, the all-bench units have been a disaster. When you have two talented playmakers like Cade and Ivey, it makes sense to use one of them with the second unit at times.
We are over halfway through the season and Monty Williams is still using and 11-12 man rotation, while just about every other team has cut it down to 9-10 guys. Figure out who those guys are already and play them accordingly, which means staggering minutes so that there is always a starter on the floor. This isn't that hard.
Detroit Pistons at the trade deadline
Want to see: Moves that help the Core Four
If you are truly building around Cade, Ivey, Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson, then act like it and add players at the deadline who complement them.
That means looking for 3-and-D wings and power forwards, veteran two-way players who aren't only good on one end. They don't have to be world-beaters, but every move should be made with the young players in mind. Ask yourself: How does this help Cade Cunningham? And if you can't find an answer, move on.
Don't want to see: Moves that help Troy Weaver
Trading for someone like Zach LaVine may help stave off the inevitable firing of Troy Weaver, but does it help this team long-term? There is probably not a move at the deadline that is going to change anything, so the last thing the Pistons can do is to make a trade just to avoid being the worst team ever. Who cares about that? This season is toast, so all moves should be made with the future in mind.
The Pistons' best chance at making a big trade is likely on draft day when they can move their 2024 first-round pick which will be a top-5 selection. The Detroit Pistons can't let a desperate GM and an impatient fanbase force them to do something with only short-term benefits.