Predicting the NBA Eastern Conference standings: Detroit Pistons
CEILING: On the play-in tournament bubble
FLOOR: No. 1 pick
The Pistons are not ready to compete, but Cade Cunningham is the foundation upon which Detroit can build a real contender. He was the consensus No. 1 pick for a reason, and he should contribute at a high level right away — even if it’s not enough to elevate the Pistons beyond the Eastern Conference cellar.
A number of good, young players will complement Cunningham too. Saddiq Bey is probably the biggest first-round steal from the 2020 draft. At 6-foot-8, he’s a dynamic 3-point threat with upside as a pull-up shooter. Killian Hayes was my No. 2 prospect out of France, and while last season was a disappointment, the upside remains. Isaiah Stewart made the All-Rookie team.
Jerami Grant, of course, is the big wild card. He started last season on a tear before coming back down to earth after the All-Star break. His numbers last season are probably unsustainable — especially with Cunningham set to run the show — but he could look even better as the No. 2 scorer, with less creative burden and a stricter focus on his strengths as a finisher and spot-up shooter.
The Pistons also littered the roster with a couple veterans, such as Kelly Olynyk, to help balance out the rotation and give Cunningham a head-start on his development. There’s no doubt Detroit would like a postseason appearance, but it feels extremely unlikely given how young the roster is. A brief run at the play-in tournament is possible, but expect the Pistons to be right back in the lottery come 2022.