The Detroit Pistons have been the surprise team of the NBA this season, already surpassing their record from last year and still having room left to grow. The Pistons turnaround has been largely ignored but impressive nonetheless.
After having the worst record in the NBA each of the last two seasons and failing to end up with the number one overall pick, they decided to try and win now and have seen encouraging results. They are currently fifth in the Eastern Conference and have a good chance of making the playoffs, something that seemed years away over the last couple of seasons.
Part of their strategy has been to bring in veteran players to help balance out their young roster and improve their level of play. That has worked like a charm thus far, with players such as Tobias Harris, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Malik Beasley being key for the Pistons, not to mention their latest addition.
The Detroit Pistons underrated trade has helped turn them into a playoff team.
The Pistons made an underrated deadline deal, acquiring Dennis Schroeder to help improve their bench. Schroeder was traded five times prior to the deadline, with Detroit being the last landing spot, and he has paid immediate dividends.
The bench lineup of Marcus Sasser, Malik Beasley, Ron Holland, Simone Fontecchio, & Isaiah Stewart has a minus-15.7 net rating on the season.
— Aaron Johnson (@AJohnsonNBA) February 22, 2025
The bench lineup of Dennis Schroder, Malik Beasley, Ron Holland, Simone Fontecchio, & Isaiah Stewart has a plus-1.6 net rating since… pic.twitter.com/UELtY3wsb5
Schroder is well regarded as a shot creator, and while his numbers haven't been amazing, his playmaking has turned a weakness into a strength. The Pistons bench was a big weakness, but with Schroeder, they are 14 points better per 100 possessions, a massive shift that has helped the Pistons continue to impress.
The early returns have been great, with them winning seven straight games, something that seemed years away from happening just last season.
Having a skilled point guard who can effectively set up teammates for easy shots can't be underrated. Especially on a young team, and we're seeing a positive impact. Of course, they wouldn't be nearly as good without the emergence of Cade Cunningham, who has more than lived up to his massive $200 million-plus contract. In fact, he suddenly looks like he can be the face of the franchise going forward.
He is not only a terrific scorer, averaging 25 points per game, but his ability to generate shots for his teammates thanks to crafty ball handling and screen navigation makes him a unique player given his size.
Having a big point guard who can both score and pass is a plus, let alone someone of his caliber, making it far easier for Detroit to build around him going forward. They will have to see how players like the injured Jaden Ivey, as well as Ausar Thompson and Ron Holland II, pan out, but the Pistons have a lot to be encouraged about.