Cade & Ivey are key to the Detroit Pistons’ playoff hopes.
Since 2019, the Pistons have been in rebuild mode. It may not seem exciting, considering it doesn’t always work out in the end with dead-end prospects. However, in just a few seasons of reconstructing the team, Detroit has an exuberant young core which could lead to some success going into this season.
In order for the Pistons to have a shot at the playoffs, they need to see a big second-year jump from last year’s No. 1 overall pick, Cade Cunningham. After a great rookie campaign from the former Oklahoma State guard, Cunningham finished 3rd in Rookie of the Year voting.
Despite not seeing success in the win columns last season, the fans had plenty to be excited about from Cunningham’s vast display of scoring and playmaking.
It’s definitely possible for Cunningham to make the jump after the Pistons went out and made some good moves to build around him, with Ivey being the centerpiece of this Pistons offseason.
While it takes some time for rookies to make an overall adjustment to the pros, Ivey will likely not need as much time to make an impact. With his change of pace speed and strong inside scoring from the combo guard, Ivey can certainly complement Cunningham’s playmaking abilities by playing off the ball.
When Cunningham is on the bench, Ivey can orchestrate the offense to ensure the Pistons don’t lose steam while their star player is resting. And with a solid second unit, Ivey maximizes the bench’s potential heading into this season and beyond.