The Pistons Got Exposed When It Mattered Most

The fallout from the Detroit Pistons losing Game 7 at home to the Cleveland Cavaliers could be significant. This wasn’t just any playoff exit. Detroit came into the postseason with the best record in the Eastern Conference after winning 60 games and finishing as the No. 1 seed. Expectations were high, especially with Cade Cunningham emerging as a legitimate superstar after finishing fifth in NBA MVP voting.

But when the lights got brightest, the Pistons’ supporting cast simply didn’t deliver.

The biggest disappointment was center Jalen Duren. After an All-Star caliber regular season in which he averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds per game, his production dropped dramatically in the playoffs to just 10 points and 8 rebounds per contest. Quite frankly, that won’t get it done. If you’re going to be viewed as a star in this league, your production is supposed to rise in the postseason — not decline.

Then there’s Ausar Thompson, another talented young piece with tremendous upside. The athleticism and defensive potential are obvious, but his offensive development still appears to be behind schedule. At some point, upside must begin translating into consistent impact, especially for a team with championship aspirations.

Now the big question becomes: where does Detroit go from here?

For me, the answer is obvious — they need to aggressively explore the possibility of landing Giannis Antetokounmpo.

I actually thought Detroit should have been active around the trade deadline, but because they were sitting atop the Eastern Conference, they likely convinced themselves this young core was capable of reaching the NBA Finals as constructed. This playoff collapse may have changed that thinking entirely.

What became painfully clear in this series is that Cade Cunningham needs a true second offensive superstar beside him. Pairing Cunningham with Giannis would immediately make Detroit a legitimate championship contender.

I don’t know exactly how the contracts and salary cap situation would work, but if there’s even a pathway to make it happen, the Pistons should be all-in.

That also raises difficult questions about Jalen Duren’s future. He’s extension eligible, but after the way he performed in the postseason, how comfortable can Detroit really be committing major money to him long term? That’s a conversation the front office now must seriously consider.

If Milwaukee were to entertain trading Giannis, a package centered around Ausar Thompson, draft picks, and potentially additional young assets would at least be a starting point for discussions. Whether it would ultimately be enough is another story, but Detroit should absolutely throw its hat in the ring rather than standing pat and hoping internal development alone is enough.

Because after a 60-win season ended with a Game 7 blowout on their home floor, it’s clear the Pistons may be closer than they’ve been in years — but still not quite close enough.