Detroit Pistons: Still the Most Directionless Franchise in the NBA?

The Detroit Pistons, once a formidable franchise with multiple championships under their belt, have fallen into a pattern of constant struggle and uncertainty. In a recent analysis, the Pistons were once again dubbed the “most directionless franchise in the NBA.” Despite undergoing a rebuild for the last four years, the team has yet to show significant improvement, leaving fans and analysts questioning their future. This article examines the Pistons’ current state, how they arrived at this point, and what their future might hold.

The 2020 Draft: A Missed Opportunity

The Pistons’ struggles are deeply rooted in their draft decisions, which began with high expectations in 2020. With two first-round picks in the 2020 NBA Draft, the team had a golden opportunity to jumpstart their rebuild. They selected Killian Hayes with the 7th pick, Isaiah Stewart with the 16th, and Saddiq Bey with the 19th pick after a trade. At the time, these picks seemed promising, with analysts praising their potential.

However, hindsight reveals that these selections were largely underwhelming. Killian Hayes, once viewed as a promising playmaker, has since become one of the most significant draft busts in recent years. His inability to develop as a scorer, both from the three-point line and at the rim, has consistently ranked him among the worst players in advanced metrics. Meanwhile, Isaiah Stewart remains on the team but has been shopped around in trade discussions, signaling the organization’s uncertainty about his future. Saddiq Bey, once a part of the Pistons’ young core, was eventually traded to the Washington Wizards, further exemplifying the team’s inability to retain long-term assets.

The most painful part of this draft for Pistons fans is the “what if” scenario. Tyrese Haliburton, taken just a few picks after Hayes, has emerged as one of the best point guards in the league, and players like Tyrese Maxey, Immanuel Quickley, and Desmond Bane, all taken after the Pistons’ selections, have become key contributors to their respective teams.

Rebuilding Woes: Bad Luck and Poor Prospect Evaluation

The Pistons’ misfortune did not end with the 2020 draft. In the years that followed, a combination of bad luck and poor prospect evaluation further compounded their woes. In 2021, the Pistons won the number one pick in the NBA Draft Lottery and selected Cade Cunningham. Cade has shown flashes of All-Star potential, but injuries plagued his second season, stunting his development and limiting his ability to build chemistry with the rest of the roster.

In 2022, the Pistons were once again victims of misfortune. Despite having the best odds to land the number one pick, they slid down to the fifth spot. This was a devastating blow, as the top four picks in that draft—Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren, Jabari Smith Jr., and Keegan Murray—are already making significant contributions to their teams. The Pistons selected Jaden Ivey with the fifth pick, a solid player with potential but one who struggles to fit alongside Cade Cunningham due to his lack of shooting and off-ball impact. While Ivey is not a bad player, his skills do not complement Cade’s game, adding to the Pistons’ ongoing issues with lineup cohesion.

In the same 2022 draft, the Pistons selected Jalen Duren with the 13th pick. Duren’s athleticism and offensive finishing have impressed at times, but his defensive liabilities make it difficult for the team to commit to him as their long-term starting center. A capable defender is crucial for any team looking to contend, and Duren has yet to prove that he can meet that standard.

The 2023 NBA Draft brought yet another disappointment for the Pistons. They once again had the best odds to secure the number one pick, but fate was unkind, and they ended up with the fifth pick. Missing out on Victor Wembanyama, the Pistons selected Ausar Thompson, a wing player known for his defensive talent. Thompson has shown promise on the defensive end, but his offensive game, particularly his shooting, is severely lacking. As a rookie, he made just 18% of his three-point attempts, exacerbating the Pistons’ floor-spacing issues.

A Cohesion Problem

The Pistons’ roster, though filled with talented young players, suffers from a significant lack of cohesion. Many of the team’s most promising prospects have glaring weaknesses that become even more pronounced when they are on the court together. For example, Jaden Ivey’s lack of shooting and off-ball impact clashes with Cade Cunningham’s need for floor spacing. Similarly, Jalen Duren’s defensive struggles hinder his potential as the team’s long-term starting center.

Even though the Pistons have had multiple lottery picks in recent years, none of them, aside from Cade Cunningham, have developed into players capable of turning the franchise around. As a result, the team has finished either last or second-to-last in the Eastern Conference for four consecutive seasons. This lack of progress is a clear indication that the Pistons’ rebuild has not gone according to plan.

Free Agency Struggles

The Pistons entered the 2023 offseason with the most cap space in the NBA—$72 million to spend. With this financial flexibility, the team had the opportunity to bring in veteran talent to mentor the young core and help accelerate the rebuild. However, despite their significant cap space, the Pistons struggled to attract top-tier free agents. Their poor draft history and lack of on-court success made them an unappealing destination, even with big money offers.

The Pistons’ most notable acquisition in free agency was Tobias Harris, a player coming off a disappointing stint with the Philadelphia 76ers. While Harris is a capable scorer, he is not the type of player who can elevate a team to the next level. The team also traded for Tim Hardaway Jr. and signed Malik Beasley, both of whom are volume three-point shooters. While these moves address the Pistons’ floor-spacing issues, neither player is a significant game-changer, and both have weaknesses, particularly on the defensive end.

What’s Next for the Pistons?

Looking ahead, the Pistons have some difficult decisions to make. Cade Cunningham is locked into a long-term contract through 2030, and Isaiah Stewart is on a four-year deal, though his future with the team remains uncertain. The real challenge lies in deciding whether to extend players like Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren, both of whom have shown potential but come with significant question marks.

The Pistons will once again have substantial cap space in the next two years, giving them another opportunity to bring in impactful help. However, if they continue to struggle with poor prospect evaluation and fail to attract significant free-agent talent, their rebuild may remain stalled, leaving them in the same directionless state they’ve been in for years.

In conclusion, the Detroit Pistons’ rebuild has been marred by poor draft luck, questionable decisions, and an overall lack of cohesion on the court. While there is still hope that their young core can develop, the team faces an uphill battle as they try to emerge from one of the darkest periods in franchise history.