Udonis Haslem picks out the moment he realized Cade Cunningham was the ‘real deal’, it involved the Miami Heat

The Pistons have strong potential in the 2025-26 season

On an NBA Today segment, the panel discussed over/under projections for certain teams. When the Pistons came up, Haslem was giddy with excitement about the team. He commended Cunningham for being one of the league’s brightest talents. Similarly, Tim Hardaway Jr. believes the star guard is a special player.

It is a great moment for the Pistons, as they are receiving the flowers for their superb season. They went from being the worst team in the East in 2024 to becoming a Playoff team. They did not even need to go through the Play-In Tournament to earn a spot.

Detroit has a promising team led by head coach J.B. Bickerstaff. The staff did a fantastic job of maximizing everyone’s talents, even when dealing with injuries.

During the 2024-25 season, they played most of the campaign without Jaden Ivey. He is a promising player who could be the comeback player of the year in the 2025-26 season.

With Cunningham in the driver’s seat, this team is in good hands. He is on a superstar trajectory as long as he can stay healthy. Cunningham is Detroit’s cornerstone with a strong supporting cast. That includes Jalen Duren, Ausar Thompson, and Isaiah Stewart, who make it easy to see why Haslem loves them.

“I’m going over for these cats. I’ve been a big fan of Detroit and what they’ve been able to build. Grit, connection, their toughness. I’m a big fan of Cade Cunningham,” Haslem said on ESPN’s NBA Today.

“Bam (Adebayo) is one of the best defenders in the league. They got to switch on Bam, and the Miami Heat love Bam, matching up against anybody. But Cade Cunningham gave him a run for his money.

“That’s when I knew he was the real deal.”

The Eastern Conference has openings in the 2025-26 season

Due to major Achilles injuries to Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton, the Eastern Conference is wide open. The Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers won’t be as strong without their superstars, so opportunities are available.

The Pistons are one of the teams looking to pounce, especially with their team gaining experience. They are not as talented as they were in the 2024-25 season, after losing Malik Beasley and Hardaway. However, they are reloading their squad, including a returning Ivey.

The Atlanta Hawks are in a similar position, especially with their roster improvements. For Haslem, the Pistons are ready to capitalize on that opportunity. The potential is there, and the Pistons should keep working towards that potential.