Cade Cunningham Off the Ball: Detroit Pistons' New Offensive Blueprint and the Ausar Thompson Equation

When the court is empty, only data whispers the truth. And in a quiet gym in Detroit in mid-September, one of the most important truths of the new season is slowly emerging: Cade Cunningham, the man who has clutched the ball like a lifeline for three seasons, is being asked to... run without it. Numbers don't lie, but the people who choose them do. So before believing any claim, look at what The Athletic just exposed. In this past postseason, when Cunningham was used in spot-up and handoff situations, he scored 1.41 points per possession — ranking in the 96.6th percentile league-wide. That number is elite. But stay calm: the sample size is just 41 catch-and-shoot attempts and 18 one-to-two-dribble possessions. This is a beautiful number, but not yet large enough to draw conclusions. The context of the issue lies in the contrast. When handling the ball directly, Cunningham scored 0.87 points per possession in pick-and-roll situations and just 0.76 points in isolation. These numbers are below league average. But the question is: does that inefficiency come from his ability, or from the fact that he was surrounded by a roster severely lacking in offensive spacing? Last season, the Pistons were one of the worst-spaced teams in the NBA. Opponents could collapse on Cade without fear of punishment. The result was that his pick-and-rolls always met a defense that was already waiting. This summer, the front office led by Trajan Langdon had an answer. Four new additions — Tim Hardaway Jr., John Collins, T.J. McConnell (in a trade context) and other shooters — all shot over 40% from three last season. This is a deliberate investment: creating space for Cunningham to move without being smothered. But more importantly, the team is betting on the development of Ausar Thompson. Thompson, the twin brother of Amen, is the centerpiece of this plan. He will become the secondary ball-handler, allowing Cunningham to play off-ball more. Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff has been clear in practice sessions: "We want Cade to get easier looks. He's had to do too many hard things." Thompson, with his burst and court vision, is expected to create offensive situations without Cunningham having to initiate everything. But here's the blind spot that The Athletic's analysis doesn't address deeply: Thompson's shooting remains a major question mark. If opponents leave him open at the three-point line to collapse on Cade, the entire off-ball plan collapses. Defenses can simply go under screens and force Cunningham into difficult mid-range shots. This is a tactical risk that no number in the original article addresses. I once thought I was right. Qatar taught me to be wrong. So I won't claim this plan will definitely succeed. But I can point out that: if Thompson averages over 5 assists per game in the first 20 games, this plan has a foundation. If Cunningham's off-ball numbers drop below 1.10 points per possession, the Pistons should revert to their familiar ball-dominant style. These are measurable signals. Every number is a confession, if we're patient enough to listen. And the confession of the Detroit Pistons this season is: they no longer want to be a team dependent on a single star. They want to become a diverse offensive unit, where Cunningham can shine without having to carry everything. Will that be enough to get them into the play-in? Possibly. But the bigger question is whether Thompson is ready for this new role. And that's an answer only time — and data — can provide.