Angle Fantasy Basketball

The Detroit Pistons are undeniably in the midst of a nightmare season. Setting the NBA world on notice with an uninspiring 28 consecutive game losing streak. This streak marked the most consecutive losses in a single season. Despite the woes, the Pistons have four promising prospects that hold significant value in dynasty basketball leagues. In this article, I will brief my thoughts on Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Ausar Thompson, and Jalen Duren. This write-up is based on the Lakers vs. Pistons game I attended this Tuesday and the trends I have noticed throughout the season on these players. 

Cade Cunningham

Cunningham is the engine of the team. Cade was the number one pick in the 2021 draft and was handed the keys to the franchise the moment he stepped on the court. He was projected as the prototypical jumbo facilitator at 6’7, 220 pounds, with a knack for hitting the midrange jumper at 47 percent (top 15). However, his three-point marksmanship has not translated from the college level at 40 percent to the NBA at 31.8 percent. His assist numbers have been up this year at 7.5 per game. He showcased his poise with the ball, dishing out seven assists while committing zero turnovers against the Lakers. It would have been nice to see an extended Cade run on Tuesday, but Monty Williams pulled Cade out of the game halfway into the third quarter. Cade finished with 12 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists in 26 minutes. I expect Cade to reach top 20 – 30 seasons in his prime in standard 9-category leagues. He may not be the future first-round finisher in his prime that we anticipated coming into the NBA, but that’s okay. Given his age and triple-double upside, he should still be valued as a top-15 asset. If he can start knocking down his 3-pointer consistently, he can creep back into top-10 territory.  

Jaden Ivey

Thanks to Monty Williams, Ivey has had a rollercoaster of a sophomore campaign. It’s not often your number five pick gets benched in favor of Killian Hayes. But that is exactly what happened. Luckily, Cade’s knee strain in January has allowed Ivey to run the offense and reassert himself as an offensive cornerstone in Detroit. Over the trade deadline, the Pistons moved on from Bojan Bogdanovic and Killian Hayes, freeing up Ivey’s path to minutes. On Tuesday, Ivey was heavily featured on offense as the second scoring option. Ivey was a menace in the fastbreak. Scoring a windmill dunk in transition over Rui Hachimura left me in awe. Ivey finished with 15 points, two rebounds, five assists, and two steals. While Ivey has all the opportunity in Detroit, he is far too limited in his 9-category stat set. His lack of consistent efficiency, low counting stats, and high turnovers give me a hesitant outlook in dynasty leagues. The athleticism is undoubtedly exciting, but don’t let it blind you to his actual production. I have Ivey around the top-100 mark in my dynasty ranks. 

Ausar Thompson

Ausar is one of my favorite young players in the NBA. His blend of athleticism, high-court sense, and defensive upside make him a high-floor and high-upside prospect. Ausar was the number five pick in the 2023 NBA draft, with pre-draft comparisons to Andre Iguodala and Andrew Wiggins. He has quick hands, twitchy athleticism, and ideal size to defend 1 through 4. During the game, Thompson showcased put-back dunks, impressive off-ball cuts, and reverse layups in the halfcourt. Like his brother, he has a unique knack as a quality rebounder for a wing. At some point in his career, I can see him averaging double-digit rebounds. Although his defensive potential is remarkable, I don’t project him as any more than a third or fourth offensive option on a contender. His lack of an outside shot is too great to ignore and is a massive wart to his game. However, I expect future top 50 seasons to come because of his ability to accumulate defensive stats, high rebounds, and a solid field goal percentage. I have Ausar Thompson as a top-40 dynasty asset. 

Jalen Duren

Jalen Duren was selected as the 13th pick in the 2022 NBA draft. Duren is a monster on the boards and a versatile defender. He is a quick twitch athlete, which allows him to keep up with guards on the switch and the length to deter shots at the rim. Duren has an underrated ability to make quick reads and passes within the flow of the offense. His improved free throw percentage from his rookie year was 61.1 percent to 74.2 percent. Duren has made huge strides in his game this year and is becoming an untouchable dynasty asset. His lack of offensive creativity and below-average blocks as a big man are Duren’s only flaws. But, as a mobile rim-runner with ideal switchability on the perimeter, he’s an ideal modern big man in the space and pace era. Duren reminds me of Houston Clint Capela with above-average passing instincts. Duren should be valued as a top 40 to 50 dynasty asset. If his block numbers from college re-emerge, Duren could become a top-30 dynasty asset.