The Detroit Pistons are one of the best teams in the NBA. They were the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference last year, and now they’re going to be looking to build on it. It wasn’t easy for Detroit to get to this point. It took years of hard work, smart moves, and decisions made to help form the right team around Cunningham.
Cunningham was drafted by the Pistons in 2021. The first-overall pick in the draft. From that point on, despite some bumps along the way, the Pistons knew they had a franchise leader on their hands. A guy who could take them into the future. But they had to do things right. And in order to do that, they had to make the right moves.
That means drafting well. That means making the right trades. That means signing the right free agents. Detroit had to be smart about everything. So, here are the five best moves the Pistons have made since drafting Cunningham.
Top 5 moves Pistons have made since drafting Cade Cunningham
5. Traded for Isaiah Joe in 2026
The only reason this move isn’t higher on the list is that Isaiah Joe hasn’t played a game for the Pistons yet. But he’s the exact type of player Detroit should want to trade for.
Detroit only had to ship out two second-round picks to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Joe. He has the potential to give the Pistons’ offense a massive boost.
4 Signed Daniss Jenkins in 2024
The Pistons signed Daniss Jenkins to a two-way contract in the 2024 offseason. He remained on a two-way heading into the 2025-26 campaign, and in February, the Pistons converted him to a standard deal.
Jenkins has rapidly become a very important piece for the Pistons. He’s a great bench guard who scores and passes well, and he has the potential to be more.
3. Signed Tobias Harris in 2024
Even though Tobias Harris isn’t on the team anymore, the Pistons were very smart to bring him on board. With him in the lineup, they turned themselves into a legitimate playoff team.
Harris’ veteran leadership helped take the Pistons to another level. People criticized the contract initially, but it worked out perfectly.
2. Drafted Ausar Thompson in 2023
It was the No. 5 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. There were bound to be some great players on the board. But the Pistons nailed the pick with Ausar Thompson.
Thompson is one of the best defenders in the league and looks like a core piece of what the Pistons are trying to do moving forward around Cunningham.
1. Draft trade for Jalen Duren in 2022
The Pistons weren’t in a position to take Jalen Duren. So, they traded up. Detroit sent the Charlotte Hornets four second-round picks to move up from the No. 15 pick to the No. 13 pick.
That’s where the Pistons took Duren, and the Hornets ended up with Mark Williams. Now, Duren is an All-Star and All-NBA Third Team big man. Detroit needs to sign him to a new deal. He’s too important to what they want to do.
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