The Detroit Pistons are fresh off an unforgettable turnaround that saw them reach the playoffs despite playing in the toughest division in the NBA. With the 2024-25 NBA season now over, where do the Pistons stand in the deep Central Division? There is a fine line between how this year’s outcome affects next year. Every team in their division was a playoff team last season, if you’re counting the Play-In Tournament Bulls as part of the playoff process. The Cavaliers had a magnificent season, only to have the injury bug bite them at the worst possible time. The Bucks are formidable as long as Giannis Antetokounmpo is in town. The Bulls are right behind, like a younger brother who follows you everywhere. The Pacers themselves went on a magical ride to the NBA Finals. Anybody who predicted this has a winning ticket to be cashed.
Where Pistons Stand in Deep Central Division
An Intriguing Offseason Awaits
As if losing in game 7 of the NBA Finals wasn’t tough enough for Indiana, they had to clutch their stomachs earlier in the game when they showed the replay of the Tyrese Haliburton Achilles tear. Damian Lillard met the same fate in the postseason for the Bucks; let us throw Jayson Tatum and his torn Achilles in there for good measure. Cleveland ruled the division and the NBA last season on their way to the top seed. Their failure to advance past the second round may result in a roster shakeup, as unfair as that seems. The Bucks and Pacers will either have to take next season on the chin without major contributors or swing a trade that fills that void. Let’s not forget we may be nearing the end of the Giannis era in Milwaukee.
Pistons’ Core Seems Safe For Now
It may be a bit selfish, but I am relieved Kevin Durant was traded to Houston . Hopefully, the windfall from that trade stays in the Western Conference. Had he been dealt to a team in the East, it would have had a domino effect. Is Giannis the next to go ? That seems possible now that his co-star Lillard will likely miss all of next season. The only team that does not seem to have any real holes in its lineup is the Pistons. Yes, they will have to figure out a solution for Tim Hardaway Jr . and Malik Beasley . Those guys’ contributions are usually plug-and-play, but both are unrestricted free agents. The foundation players on this roster, Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey , Ausar Thompson , Jalen Duren , and Isiah Stewart, seem safe for now. Let’s hope Dennis Schröder is back as well, as he is an unrestricted free agent. There will be a few moves without a doubt. Some fresh faces will be inserted. But the front office has the benefit of the doubt.
Will Pistons Make The Jump In The Division
The Pistons don’t have the star-studded roster makeup that has ruled the NBA for the last 10 years. They don’t have a big three, which seemed mandatory for years. What they do have is a roster that I believe closely resembles that of the Pacers. The same team that came within a game of hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy. I’ll save all of the unique comparisons for another time, but there are some eerily similar connections between Indiana and Detroit. Outside of Cleveland, I believe Detroit has the right pieces to jump past the Bucks and the Pacers. Those teams will not resemble what we saw this season. The makeup of this team has all the right pieces to the puzzle; the hard part is getting them to fit. A higher seed in the playoffs could be just what they need to gain some confidence and make that jump.
Photo credit: © Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
The post Where Pistons Stand in Deep Central Division appeared first on Last Word On Basketball .