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The Detroit Pistons are going to be a problem in a few years

Phoenix Suns forward Yuta Watanabe, center, waits on the rebound with Detroit Pistons forward Ausar Thompson (9) and guard Cade Cunningham (2) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Phoenix Suns forward Yuta Watanabe, center, waits on the rebound with Detroit Pistons forward Ausar Thompson (9) and guard Cade Cunningham (2) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but…

OK actually, I do. His name is Greg.

Listen up, Greg.

The Detroit Pistons are going to be a problem in the future.

You were probably sleeping on them, because well, who could blame you? They’ve been the most boring team in the league over the last 10 years.

But the Pistons are not only finally worth watching, they’re Orville Redenbacher-worthy. Detroit is stacked with young talent, from the young studs you know, like former No. 1 overall pick Cade Cunningham and top five-picks Jaden Ivey and Ausar Thompson, to second-year revelation Jalen Duren.

We can go on.

There’s also Marcus Sasser, who’s looking like a young Lou Williams and putting out mixtapes every few games. He hung 26 on the Bucks on 11-of-17 shooting on Wednesday, a few nights after going for 22 on 9-of-16 shooting against the Suns and posting 19 against the Pelicans (6-10 FG).

Sasser was a stud at the University of Houston, helping lead the Coogs to the Final Four in 2021 for the first time since the Phi Slamma Jamma days. We’re only 10 games in, but he already looks like a winner with the 25th overall pick in last year’s draft.

There’s a new-age Rick Mahorn in Isaiah Stewart, who will cut you. There’s former lottery picks Marvin Bagley III and Killian Hayes, who’s been slightly improved so far this season, and even former No. 2 overall pick James Wiseman.

They may not all pan out, but this team is stacked with more lottery picks than the guy in front of you at the convenience store when you’re late and the pump outside isn’t working.

Cunningham is the clear lead dog, and he’s averaging 24 points and 7 assists per game. Coaches were impressed with how well he played when training with USA Basketball ahead of the FIBA World Cup, and many believe he’ll take a major leap in the next few years.

Ivey could take that kind of leap too, and he’s been efficient so far this season– shooting nearly 50 percent from the field and 40 percent from 3. He’s also one of the most explosive young finishers in the league, and he’s actually fighting to earn minutes on this young squad. There have been rumblings that Ivey isn’t happy with his playing time, but we’re choosing to believe this will smooth over eventually.

Maybe the most impressive youngster thus far though has been Thompson, the rookie from Overtime Elite who’s already showing he can not only be elite in Overtime, but an elite defender. Thompson is statsheet stuffing, averaging 11.3 points, 9.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game so far. He also leads the Pistons in defensive rating, and currently ranks in the top 15 in the league in rebounds, blocks and steals. Did we mention he’s a rookie?

This is the NBA’s version of an AAU team, with nothing but youth, length and athleticism, and a coach in Monty Williams who’s one of the best teachers of the game in the league.

In Cunningham, Ivey, and Sasser, they’ve got guards with deep bags who can create and make shots and score in a variety of ways.

In the beastly Duren, they’ve got a young bucket-and-board-getter who’s averaging a double-double (13.9 ppg, 11.6 rpg) and shooting an insane 63.8% from the field, catching lobs and hammering home putback dunks.

In Thompson, they’ve got a long, quick, tough defender who could become one of the best wing stoppers in the league– like, this year. He’s been that good defensively.

Yes, the Pistons have lost seven straight. Yes, they’re 2-8 so far on the season.

But they also had second-half leads on the 76ers and Bucks, and played the Warriors and Heat tough, losing the season-opener in Miami by a point.

They also have an average age of 24.

And look– we get it. This isn’t Meineke. There’s no guarantee on these Pistons. Monty Williams can alienate players (see: Deandre Ayton). Cunningham hasn’t been a super-efficient shooter. Ivey may be unhappy. Sasser may be a flash in the pan.

But if we’re being real, this young Detroit squad has the pieces in place to grow into one of the better teams in the league in a few years.

It may not be soon enough for fans online, but hey, that’s alright.

These guys aren’t going anywhere.

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