Detroit Pistons point guard Cade Cunningham continues to be a bright spot amid the organization’s rebuild, one which has gone about as poorly as any in recent memory.
Cade Cunningham a Bright Spot in Bleak Rebuild
Cunningham is coming into his own as an All-Star player. Selected first overall in the 2021 NBA Draft, Cunningham scored 30-plus points for the 15th time of the season in a matchup against a pair of potential Hall of Fame guards in Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
In his last 10 contests, Cunningham has averaged 24.5 points per game, shooting 48.9 percent from the field and 46.9 percent 3. He’s now averaging a career-high 22.6 points per game this season, tied with Memphis Grizzlies star Jaren Jackson Jr. for the 24th-highest mark in the NBA.
A lethal scorer that’s consistently capable of getting a bucket from anywhere on the floor, Cunningham is a building block for the Pistons offensively.
The icing on the cake is that the Arlington native is well-rounded, from his play to his personality. A heady leader who’s far more mature than his age might suggest, Cunningham won’t run from the challenge. Nor will he lay responsibility for the Pistons at others’ feet.
That has played a part in why his chemistry with 2022 No. 5 pick, Jaden Ivey, has been slow to develop. Nonetheless, those qualities are necessary ingredients for the all-time greats.
A Trip Down Memory Lane
The Pistons’ last playoff appearance was in 2019. Propelled by six-time All-Star, Blake Griffin, Detroit went 41-41 in what was their best record since 2016.
In 2016, the Pistons managed a 44-38 record, head coach Stan Van Gundy’s team playing with balance on both ends. Ending a six-year playoff drought that began just a season after Chauncey Billups was traded to the Denver Nuggets in a deal that brought them Allen Iverson, this was the first iteration of Detroit’s rebuild.
The ninth overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, Andre Drummond was at the center of their plans. A replacement for the aging Ben Wallace, a four-time Defensive Player of the Year, there was hope that he could be a foundational piece of a new core.
Yet, Georgetown product Greg Monroe was selected seventh overall just two years before Drummond. He was another highly-touted prospect, known as a skilled big that could operate as a fulcrum in a Princeton offense. In comparison, Drummond was a promising but unpolished true center known for his physical tools.
Repeating Past Mistakes
Like the present-day Pistons, their approach to rebuilding was questionable. While drafting talented players, they weren’t a clean fit. Monroe stayed with Detroit for just two more seasons, signing with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2015. Starting at center beside stretch-four Jabari Parker, Monroe was a natural fit.
The Pistons experienced a similar transformation with Marcus Morris and Tobias Harris. Phoenix Suns traded Morris to Detroit shortly before the 2015-16 season and Harris was acquired from the Orlando Magic before the trade deadline. Their 3-point shooting, athleticism, and determined defense complementing Drummond well in the frontcourt. Neither played more than two seasons in Detroit.
This is the path that’s led the Pistons to where they are today. Yet, it’s also the path they’re currently on.
Cade Cunningham’s Fit with Jaden Ivey
The focus on Detroit’s chemistry concerns has been whether Cunningham and Ivey are good enough off-ball to mesh well. To that point, both shoot under 35 percent from 3 for their career. For that reason, Cunningham’s shooting a career-high 36.6 percent from 3 is crucial to their long-term outlook. However, it doesn’t change the fact that both are natural on-ball playmakers.
Nor does it alleviate concerns about the pair defensively. Though both have the length and desire to make an impact at that end, their defense is problematic nonetheless. Both are prone to getting beat off-the-dribble on the perimeter. Neither is reliable when defending in the post.
Similar to the Pistons’ decision to pair Monroe and Drummond, this duo seems doomed to fail in Detroit. That’s not to say they won’t perform well individually. However, they may never be the backcourt pairing the Pistons must have envisioned after drafting Ivey.
Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren’s Fit
Compounding the problem is the tricky fit between 2023 No. 5 pick Ausar Thompson and 2022 No. 13 pick Jalen Duren. Despite playing different positions, there’s a fair amount of overlap in their strengths and weaknesses.
Both are explosive athletes with lean, muscular builds that lend themselves to their defensive upside and ability to be vertical threats. Furthermore, both excel on the offensive glass. Yet, neither are reliable scorers outside of the lane. A pair that causes the type of congested lanes one might find in Los Angeles on a Friday night, they not only make it difficult for each other to score but for Cunningham and Ivey as well.
Final Buzzer Thoughts
Several Pistons players have had outstanding performances at some point or another this season. Chief among them is Cunningham, who has taken the type of leap usually expected from men in spacesuits. However, despite this, their rebuild looks bleak.
That’s without even factoring in their historic 28-game losing streak.
