The Detroit Pistons received a middle of the road ranking in a recent NBA future breakdown
Each year, ESPN releases a three-year look into the NBA’s future as it compiles a Future Power Rankings to sort out a myriad of competitive teams in the Eastern and Western Conference. On the surface, that type of test seems uniquely suited to flatter the Detroit Pistons as a talented, playoff-reaching team with a young core that is expected to continue developing together under head coach J.B. Bickerstaff.
Pistons star point guard Cade Cunningham is fresh off an All-NBA third team selection and was a surefire All-Star representative last year as well. Cunningham is surrounded by guard Jaden Ivey, forward Ausar Thompson and center Jalen Duren, all of which are starters younger than 24-years old. That alone would lead one to believe that Detroit is on the upswing with the best yet to come.
However, ESPN.com NBA analyst Kevin Pelton was a bit more cautious in his approach to the Pistons’ prospects over the next three seasons. While Pelton did acknowledge that Detroit has made considerable strides recently, he chose a more pragmatic, patient approach to the future of the Pistons and placed the squad at No. 18 overall.
“This is Detroit's best finish here since 2017, and the Pistons arguably belong higher after Cade Cunningham emerged as an All-NBA anchor during a breakthrough fourth campaign,” Peloton wrote. “Detroit has cap flexibility to add around a core of Cunningham, Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson and owns all its picks. Another season in the East's top six should convince us to move the Pistons much higher next year.”
Based on the five categorical reference points used to slot the Pistons at No. 18, Detroit has a top 10 financial situation currently, and a No. 13 score for the Pistons’ drafting headline the team’s Future Power Rankings breakdown. On a less than favorable breakdown, Detroit was graded at No. 25 for its market.
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Last season, Bickerstaff and President of Basketball Operations Trajan Langdon did a quality job of instilling structure and implementing key systems within the Detroit organization– Cunningham reinforced these notions during his appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. With a strong foundation guiding the Pistons, it is quite possible that Detroit outperforms the No. 18 future ranking provided by ESPN, Peloton just chose to see more than one quality season out of the Pistons before properly awarding the team its flowers.
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