Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons were one of the biggest surprises of the 2024-25 NBA season. After tying the record for most consecutive losses in league history the year before, the team bounced back under new head coach J.B. Bickerstaff.
Cunningham emerged as a legitimate superstar and future MVP candidate while leading the Pistons to a sixth-place finish in the Eastern Conference. But the team still needs to tweak the roster if it wants to take the next step toward contention. And one analyst has a player in mind who could elevate Detroit to that level.
Detroit Pistons Have Cap Room — and Ambition — to Add Another Young Star
Cunningham’s rise was the Pistons’ biggest storyline this season, but he’s not doing it alone. Jaden Ivey, Jalen Duren, Ausar Thompson and Ron Holland II round out an impressive young core with plenty of room to grow.
Still, Bjorn Bergstrom of PFSN believes the Pistons have the cap flexibility to keep building. With $24 million in cap space — second-most among all teams this offseason—he suggests Detroit could go after Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga.
Kuminga, 22, has spent four years in the Warriors’ system but saw his role shrink this past season. He appeared in just 47 games and made only 10 starts, both career lows.
“They have young, promising players on the wing in Ausar Thompson and Ron Holland II, but using their money on another is a risk they could be willing to take,” Bergstrom wrote, noting the team’s need for more high-upside talent.
Jonathan Kuminga is the youngest Warrior to score 20+ PTS in 3 straight playoff games off the bench. pic.twitter.com/e85pIOSgzl
— Real Sports (@realapp_) May 15, 2025
“Despite a surprisingly positive season in which the Pistons pushed the Knicks to six games in the first round, they should still be in talent acquisition mode, as this is far from a finished roster capable of contending.”
Kuminga averaged 15.3 points per game in a limited 24.3-minute role last season. He’s a career 50.7% shooter from the field and even knocked down 37% of his 3-pointers in the 2022-23 campaign.
When given the chance in a playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Kuminga responded with three straight 20-point games off the bench. That kind of scoring pop is something the Pistons could unleash with the right opportunity.
If he can return to that level while continuing to bring the defensive energy he’s known for, Kuminga could form a tough two-way duo with Thompson. Both fit the mold of modern 3-and-D wings, and the upside of developing them together could be massive.
For a team still learning how to thrive in postseason basketball, adding more young talent is a must. Kuminga fits the timeline, brings upside, and wouldn’t cost a fortune, making him a natural fit in Detroit’s plans.
