The Detroit Pistons could have another level to unlock heading into the new season, with Cade Cunningham potentially taking on a bigger role away from the ball.
Key Highlights
- Cunningham Off the Ball: Detroit could benefit from using its star guard more frequently as an off-ball scoring threat.
- Thompson’s Playmaking: Ausar Thompson is expected to take on more ball-handling responsibilities next season.
- Elite Shooting Support: New additions including Isaiah Joe, John Collins, Taurean Prince and Gary Harris give Cunningham more reliable perimeter options.
- Title Contender Potential: The Cunningham-Thompson partnership could provide the internal growth needed to push Detroit into genuine contention.
Cunningham’s Off-Ball Evolution
Cunningham has been at his best as Detroit’s primary offensive initiator, but his recent shooting numbers suggest there is plenty of value in getting him more involved through off-ball actions. During last season’s playoffs, he shot 48.8% from three on catch-and-shoot attempts, highlighting the potential of using him as more than just a pick-and-roll creator.
Coach J.B. Bickerstaff has already indicated that getting Cunningham away from constant on-ball duties could add another dimension to the Pistons’ offense.
Thompson Ready for a Bigger Role
A major part of that plan could involve Ausar Thompson taking on more responsibility as a ballhandler. Thompson showed encouraging signs as a wing initiator last season, posting a career-best 15.5% assist percentage, which ranked in the 73rd percentile among wings.
His combination of size, speed and a 7-foot wingspan gives Detroit plenty of reasons to explore his playmaking potential. That could allow Cunningham to operate more freely off the ball while giving Thompson opportunities to develop as a secondary creator.
“We want to put the ball in (Thompson’s) hands more,” Bickerstaff said.
Shooting Gives Cunningham More Options
Detroit also appears better equipped to surround Cunningham with shooting. Offseason additions Isaiah Joe, John Collins, Taurean Prince and Gary Harris all shot at least 40% from three-point range last season.
While matching the shooting production of Detroit’s 2024-25 roster will be difficult, the current group could still give Cunningham more space to operate. The numbers also support the idea of putting him in more off-ball situations.
Cunningham averaged 1.41 points per possession on spot-ups and handoffs without a dribble during last season’s playoffs, ranking in the 96.6th percentile among players. By comparison, he produced 0.87 points per possession as the ballhandler in pick-and-rolls and 0.76 in isolation.
A Key Step for Detroit
Thompson's development could ultimately determine how effectively the Pistons can diversify Cunningham’s role. A right-ankle sprain after 10 games disrupted Thompson’s early-season progress, but he had already averaged 13.9 points and 3.4 assists during those opening 10 games while taking on a larger offensive role.
With Thompson and Cunningham already spending time training together this summer, Detroit has an opportunity to build on that chemistry. If Thompson continues to develop as an initiator while Cunningham combines his usual on-ball dominance with more effective off-ball movement, the Pistons could have another offensive dimension — and potentially the internal growth needed to emerge as a legitimate NBA title contender.
