The Detroit Pistons fixed part of their playoff issue this offseason, but the bigger question is still hanging over them.
Last spring, their offense bogged down in the postseason because they couldn’t shoot enough from 3 and didn’t have enough creation beyond Cade Cunningham. Detroit went after the shooting problem hard, adding John Collins, Isaiah Joe, Taurean Prince and Gary Harris.
That should help stretch the floor. But the other issue - the lack of players who can create their own offense - barely got touched.
That matters because the Pistons didn’t just fail to add another shot-maker. They also lost Tobias Harris, who was their No. 2 scoring option in the playoffs and the only other player besides Cade who could consistently make something happen with the ball in his hands. On paper, that leaves the same burden on Cunningham, maybe even a heavier one.
There’s reason to think the new spacing could still help. With more shooting around him, Detroit’s guards shouldn’t be driving into traffic nearly as often, and that could clean up some of the turnover issues that showed up last season. Better lanes should make life easier for Cunningham, too.
But the core problem remains simple: this can’t be a one-man operation. The newcomers are solid shooters, but they’re not the type of additions who are going to bend defenses off the dribble and manufacture shots on their own.
That means Detroit is once again betting on internal growth, starting with Daniss Jenkins and Ausar Thompson. Jenkins has to look more confident after last season’s showing, and his expiring deal should give him extra motivation.
The Pistons need him to take better care of the ball and do a better job setting up teammates. He can score, but his dribble penetration often led him into trouble.
Thompson has a similar assignment, only the issue is his handle. He has to tighten it up in a major way, because once he got into traffic, turnovers were waiting for him.
Detroit will need more than just those two, though. Kevin Huerter is another name who has some dribble creation and passing in his game, and the Pistons need more from everyone in that area.
If that group - or somebody else on the roster - doesn’t deliver enough, then Detroit can’t afford to sit back and hope it sorts itself out. At that point, the Pistons will need to make a move before the trade deadline.
Patience makes sense here, but it only goes so far. Cade Cunningham’s prime isn’t endless, and Detroit can’t afford to waste another postseason on a weakness everyone can see. There may be several trade targets who fit the need, but the Pistons first have to find out whether the answers are already in the room.
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For Pistons fans, the wrinkle is hard to miss because Weaver is in New Orleans now, still operating in the same circles that shaped Beys NBA journey. Bey has shown enough to earn real money, but he still hasnt fully answered the postseason question, which leaves his development tied to the same uncomfortable argument that followed him out of Detroit: was he undervalued, or just not the kind of player a rebuilding team could fully maximize? [Read more 🡒]
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One hypothetical construction has Brooklyn trying to solve its own frontcourt question by prying Duren loose in a sign-and-trade, while Detroit would be weighing whether the return is worth moving on. The idea is built around the kind of deal that can reshape both teams timelines, but until something concrete emerges, it remains just that, a framework for how much leverage and intrigue still surround Durens next contract. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Face A Jalen Duren Decision Bigger Than The Price Tag
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The appeal of a multi-year pact is obvious, yet the real challenge is making sure it does not become a burden later if Detroit needs to reshape the roster around Cunningham. There is a clear case for thinking beyond the headline number and treating the contract as a tool, not just a reward, because the way money is distributed over time can affect both future cap management and trade value. For a team trying to build sustainably, the fine print on Durens extension may matter almost as much as the player himself. [Read more 🡒]