Cade Cunningham didn’t need to say much on media day to make his point, but what he did say told you plenty about where he stands inside the Pistons’ locker room.
With Jalen Duren in the middle of a standoff and drawing public attention for his pursuit of the highest contract possible, Cunningham chose support over criticism. He backed his teammate and even tried to take some heat off him, a move that says as much about Cunningham’s growth as a leader as it does about the situation itself. He also drew a line back to his own extension two years ago, making clear that he understands the business side of these negotiations.
That approach matters for more than just keeping the peace. Calling out Duren would have done Cunningham no favors with the rest of the team, and it could have raised questions for future free agents about what it would be like to play alongside him in Detroit. Instead, Cunningham sent a different message: he’s going to have his teammates’ backs.
The Pistons made that message even more important this offseason when they moved on from two veteran voices, Isaiah Stewart and Tobias Harris. Detroit had its own reasons for parting with both players, but Cunningham’s rise made the transition easier. The organization has now handed him the keys to the locker room, and he’s the longest-tenured Piston on the roster with five years and counting in Detroit.
That kind of standing comes with responsibility, and Cunningham appears ready for it. In previous seasons, he hadn’t fully reached the point where he could lead the team in that way.
This year, that’s changed. He’s in veteran territory now, and he’s showing the kind of media savvy that comes with it.
The leadership piece is one thing. The basketball piece is another, and Cunningham’s value there is just as obvious.
He’s already established himself as an elite floor general, and that should only matter more this season. With his vision and passing, he can create easy baskets for teammates and lift the offense in a direct way.
That’s especially important for a Pistons group that doesn’t have the kind of elite scoring talent other contenders can lean on. Cunningham’s playmaking has to carry real weight.
And a big reason he’s able to connect with so many teammates is the trust he’s built over time. That chemistry doesn’t happen by accident.
It comes from Cunningham proving, day after day, that he’s a leader both on the floor and in the room.
In Other News...
Pistons Need This Jalen Duren Standoff Settled Before It Gets Messy
Jalen Durens contract situation has become one of the quiet issues hanging over Detroit as the regular season draws closer. The Pistons have been trying to work through a new deal with the young center, and the uncertainty has already reached the point where the front office would rather have this settled than let it linger into training camp and the early part of the schedule.
Detroit has made at least one concession in the latest version of its offer, which suggests both sides are still trying to find common ground. Even so, the clock is the problem now, and the longer this stretches on, the more it risks becoming a distraction for a team that would much prefer the focus stay on basketball rather than contract talk. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Offense Is Changing In A Way Fans Have Wanted
J.B. Bickerstaff spent part of the offseason talking about the direction of the Pistons offense, and the message was pretty clear: Detroit wants to be more versatile and put more pressure on defenses from the perimeter. The coach said the changes were made with an eye toward adding more three-point shooting and creating a lineup that is harder to guard, a shift that should feel familiar to fans who have long wanted a more modern, spacing-friendly attack.
The personnel moves are only part of it. Bickerstaff also pointed to internal growth as a major piece of the puzzle, expecting Cade Cunningham to keep expanding his role as a leader while Ron Holland continues sharpening the parts of his game that matter most in this system. If those steps come together alongside the new additions, Detroit could look less predictable and a lot more difficult to defend when the season opens. [Read more 🡒]