The Athletic: How can the Pistons unlock Cade Cunningham off the ball?

As the 2026-26 season approaches, the Detroit Pistons face a major tactical question: how to unlock the full potential of Cade Cunningham? The answer, according to analysis from The Athletic, lies in getting the 23-year-old star off the ball more often. This past summer, the Pistons successfully acquired four players who shot over 40% from three-point range last season: Tim Hardaway Jr., Malik Beasley, Tobias Harris, and Paul Reed. This was a deliberate addition, aimed at creating the wide offensive spacing that Cunningham never had in his first two seasons in Detroit. Previously, Cunningham often faced packed defenses, severely impacting his scoring efficiency. Statistics from the recent playoffs paint a clear picture. When used as a spot-up shooter, Cunningham achieved 1.30 points per possession (PPP), ranking in the 84th percentile league-wide. More notably, in handoff situations, he posted 1.41 PPP, placing him in the 96.6th percentile. In contrast, his efficiency when handling the ball directly was much more modest: just 0.87 PPP in pick-and-roll situations and 0.76 PPP in isolation. This disparity raises an important tactical question: should the Pistons change how they use Cunningham? The answer is yes, and Ausar Thompson is the key. The 23-year-old has shown significant improvement in his ball-handling and playmaking abilities. If Thompson can take on the primary playmaking role in certain offensive sets, Cunningham would have opportunities to move off the ball, capitalizing on catch-and-shoot situations where he truly shines. However, this plan also carries risks. Thompson suffered an ankle injury last season, and his outside shooting remains a major question mark. If opponents sag off Thompson to help on defense, Cunningham's off-ball actions could be neutralized. This is a tactical gamble that the Pistons coaching staff needs to consider carefully. Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff has spoken positively about using Cunningham more flexibly. He emphasized that having Cunningham play off-ball not only increases offensive efficiency but also saves energy for critical moments. This is a philosophy proven by many top NBA teams, where the primary star doesn't necessarily need to handle the ball in every situation. With the new roster, the Pistons are aiming to compete for a play-in spot in the Eastern Conference. The combination of the newcomers' shooting ability, Thompson's development, and Cunningham's versatility could create a diverse and unpredictable offensive system. However, everything still needs time to be tested, and the first 20 games of the season will be the most important test for this plan.