Pistons’ stunning rebuild earns top-four spot in future NBA rankings image
It was not long ago that the Detroit Pistons represented the bleakest situation in the NBA. During the 2023-24 season, Detroit went 14-68 and established a league record with 28 consecutive losses. The organization lacked direction, endured repeated lottery disappointment and appeared years away from becoming relevant.
The transformation since then has been remarkable.
Detroit placed fourth in The Sporting News’ projection of the NBA’s best teams in 2030, finishing behind only the San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Lakers. The Pistons even ranked ahead of established contenders such as the Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics.
Cunningham-Duren partnership drives Detroit’s rise
Cade Cunningham will be 28 years old during the 2029-30 season, placing him directly in the prime of his career. Jalen Duren will be only 25. That pairing gives Detroit a foundational guard-center combination capable of growing together for several more seasons. Cunningham provides the size and offensive creativity to control games, while Duren brings interior scoring, rebounding and physicality.
The Pistons are expected to re-sign Duren, although keeping both stars will create financial pressure. Cunningham and Duren could consume more than half of Detroit’s salary cap by 2030.
Ausar Thompson presents the franchise’s most complicated decision. Thompson is an elite defensive talent whose versatility can change games, but his shooting limitations create spacing concerns when he shares the floor with Duren. Detroit must determine whether his defensive impact justifies another expensive long-term contract or whether he should become part of a trade for a better-fitting star.
The Pistons also could have Ebuka Okorie, who will be 22 in 2030, as another major piece of their rotation.
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Detroit possesses flexibility to chase missing star
Detroit received a B asset grade because it controls all of its future first-round picks. That gives the Pistons the ability to remain patient, continue drafting around Cunningham and Duren or assemble a package for an established star. Few teams positioned near the top of their conference maintain that level of flexibility.
The roster still will require difficult choices. John Collins, Isaiah Joe, Kevin Huerter, Ron Holland, Paul Reed and Thompson are among the players whose long-term futures remain uncertain. Duncan Robinson is not expected to remain part of the team by 2030.
Those potential departures could make Detroit look dramatically different around its two stars. The critical difference from the Pistons’ previous rebuild is that the franchise no longer is searching for a foundational player. Cunningham already occupies that role, and Duren gives him a young partner with substantial upside.
Detroit’s 28-game losing streak illustrated how far a franchise can fall. Its No. 4 projection shows how quickly the direction can reverse once the right stars, financial discipline and draft assets align.
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