Cade Cunningham is already the engine in Detroit. The real question heading into tonight’s matchup with the Timberwolves is who else can make himself impossible to leave on the floor.
Three players have a chance to do that, and each one brings a different argument for a bigger role.
Ebuka Okorie looks like the rookie with the highest upside to help right away. He has already flashed in both preseason games, and the early signs point to a rotation spot if he keeps stacking nights like this.
Against the Suns, he played just 10 minutes, but he squeezed plenty out of them. Okorie scored 7 points, went 3-for-4 from the field, and finished the job with the game-winning layup in a 107-105 win.
the fact Ebuka Okorie didn’t even play until 10 min into the 4Q and:- immediately hit a 3 when he came in - 2 easy layups coming off PnR and the finish through traffic - game winning bucket - up and under finish at stanford, almost NONE of his shots, let alone 3s were…
He followed that with a bigger opportunity against the Wizards and showed a different side of his game. Okorie posted 14 points and 6 assists, both team highs, in a 114-108 loss.
The selling points are obvious: shot creation and playmaking. That’s the kind of blend that can matter when Cunningham heads to the bench and Detroit needs someone to run the offense.
Isaiah Joe’s first two games with the Pistons haven’t gone smoothly, but the track record says there’s real shooting talent here. Last season with the Thunder, he averaged 11 points per game while shooting 45% from the field and 42% from 3-point range.
That kind of spacing is exactly what this offense needs. So far, though, the numbers have been cold: a combined 4-for-19 from the field, which is 21%, and 1-for-13 from 3, or 7%.
Even so, the role is there if the shot comes around. If Joe finds his rhythm, he can lock down a bench job as a shooting spark next to Duncan Robinson. He’s still adjusting, but the ceiling as a floor-stretcher is clear.
Then there’s Paul Reed, who has taken on a much larger preseason role than he had a year ago. Last season, he was the third-string center. This preseason, he has started every game so far.
His production has matched the opportunity. Reed averaged 14 minutes a game last season, along with 8 points and 5 rebounds while shooting 61% from the field. In the two preseason games, he has combined for 21 points and 16 rebounds, and he has done it efficiently.
With Jalen Duren out, Reed has a real path to hold down the backup center spot if he keeps producing.
Tonight against Minnesota, all three have the same mission: show head coach J.B. Bickerstaff they belong on the court.
In Other News...
Pistons May Have Found The Identity That Keeps This Team Rising
The Pistons spent the summer reinforcing the part of the roster that already gave them a clear edge, bringing in John Collins in free agency and keeping Jalen Duren in the fold. On paper, the fit is pretty straightforward: Collins at power forward, Duren at center, with both expected to help Detroit stay physical around the rim and give the offense extra chances on the glass.
Rebounding has already been a calling card for this team, and the idea here is less about starting over than doubling down on what works. If Collins and Duren can form the kind of frontcourt pairing Detroit envisioned, the Pistons may not just preserve that strength from last season, but turn it into one of the identity pieces that keeps the group moving up the standings. [Read more 🡒]
Lakers Kept Austin Reaves Away From A Team Desperate For Help
Detroits front office spent much of the offseason chasing ways to speed up its rebuild, and Austin Reaves was firmly on that radar before he chose to stay with the Lakers. The Pistons have already made some important commitments of their own, extending Ausar Thompson on a five-year contract and re-signing Jalen Duren after contract negotiations, but their interest in bigger names shows how aggressively they are looking to add talent around that young core.
The pursuit did not stop with Reaves, either. Detroit reportedly checked in on trade possibilities for Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant as it keeps searching for a move that can raise the ceiling of the roster, and the sense is the Pistons will keep pressing on major targets as they build for the future. For a team that has spent years trying to escape the leagues bottom tier, the willingness to keep swinging is becoming part of the identity. [Read more 🡒]
Paul Reed Faces A Big Pistons Test Isaiah Stewart Never Did
The Pistons are asking Paul Reed to step into a bigger lane after moving on from Isaiah Stewart, and the appeal is easy to see. Reed has already shown he can make an impact on the defensive end with steals and blocks, while also giving Detroit more offensive versatility than Stewart typically did. For a team that values energy and versatility in its frontcourt, that makes Reed a compelling fit on paper.
What remains to be seen is whether the bigger workload can hold up once the minutes start stacking up. Reeds expanded role will be a real test of consistency, because the Pistons need more than flashes from him - they need steady production and reliable contributions over time. If he can sustain what he has shown, Detroits move away from Stewart could look a lot more worthwhile. [Read more 🡒]