The Pistons took plenty of heat for giving Kevin Huerter a 3-year, $27 million extension this offseason, but the deal starts looking a lot smarter if his jumper is back. In Detroit’s preseason matchup with the Wizards, Huerter gave the first real signs that his shot might be coming around, going 3-of-6 from 3-point range.
That kind of spacing could matter a lot for a team trying to build toward contender status and give Cade Cunningham more help on offense. If Huerter can pair his shot-making with the rest of his growing game, he has a real chance to become a valuable supporting piece for Detroit.
Huerter’s calling card has always been his shooting. When he first broke into the league, that was the skill that made him stand out, and he backed it up by hitting 38% of his threes over his first 6 seasons with the Hawks and Kings. A labrum injury changed that path, though, and he hasn’t looked quite the same from deep since 2024.
Since that injury, the slide has been clear. Huerter has made just 32% of his threes across stints with the Kings, Bulls and Pistons.
That’s why his showing against Washington stood out so much for Detroit fans. He looked confident, and the makes came in different ways - including a handoff three and a stepback in the corner.
If those become routine, the Pistons may have uncovered an important piece for their rotation.
Detroit could use another high-level wing shooter, especially with the team no longer carrying the same center depth. That puts more pressure on the wings to create an edge, and Huerter could help give that group some punch. If the shot returns, he’d make for a strong bench pairing with Isaiah Joe.
There’s more to Huerter now than just the jumper. The injury may have taken something away, but it also pushed him to sharpen other parts of his game.
Over the last two seasons, he’s made strides as a ball-handler, defender and finisher around the rim. Against the Wizards, that showed up too, with 3 assists and 1 steal.
He can even spot in as a backup point guard if needed. That isn’t his perfect role, but he can move the ball, make the right read and keep an offense humming. His fit with Paul Reed already looks like it could turn into a useful pick-and-roll combination.
Still, everything comes back to the shooting. If Huerter gets all the way back to peak form from beyond the arc, the rest of his game becomes a lot more dangerous. For the Pistons, that would go a long way toward answering one of their biggest questions.
In Other News...
Cade Cunninghams Absence Is Giving The Pistons A Real Test
Cade Cunninghams preseason rest against Washington gave the Pistons a useful look at life without their top engine, and it put some of the rosters younger pieces under the spotlight. Detroit has been using these exhibition stretches to sort through lineups and see which combinations can hold up when the offense isnt running through its best player, a worthwhile exercise even in a loss.
Daniss Jenkins stepped into a bigger role, while rookie Ebuka Okorie also got another chance to make his case after his strong preseason opener against Phoenix. For a team that wants more flexibility and a deeper supporting cast once the games count, these minutes matter, because the Pistons need more than Cunninghams brilliance to carry them through the regular season. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Just Got An Early Warning About Life Without Cade
Cade Cunningham sat out Detroits second preseason game, and the result offered an early glimpse of how thin the margin can get when the offense has to function without its engine. The Pistons had trouble generating clean looks, the ball stuck at times, and the overall execution on that end never found much rhythm as the group struggled to score efficiently.
There were a couple of encouraging notes in the backcourt, though, with Daniss Jenkins and rookie Ebuka Okorie each showing some feel for organizing the offense. Even so, Detroits poor shooting and turnover issues underscored how much work remains if the team wants to survive Cunningham absences in the regular season and keep his workload manageable. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons May Not Be Done After Locking In Cade Cunninghams Core
The Pistons have already checked off two major items from their long-term to-do list, signing Ausar Thompson to a five-year extension and reaching a five-year, $200 million fully guaranteed deal with Jalen Duren after a restricted free agency standoff. For a franchise that has spent years trying to stabilize its young core around Cade Cunningham, locking in Thompson and Duren gives Detroit a clearer identity and a deeper foundation than it had going into the offseason.
Even so, the roster picture does not feel finished. Detroit has been mentioned in speculation tied to a possible wing upgrade, and the teams front office has made it clear enough in recent years that it will keep looking for ways to speed up the rebuild. Whether that means standing pat with the group it has or finding another move to balance the rotation, the Pistons still have a few decisions to make before the roster feels fully set. [Read more 🡒]