Even after claiming the East's No. 1 seed and coming within a game of reaching the conference finals last season, the Detroit Pistons remain a sleeper going into the 2026-27 season. At sportsbooks, the Knicks, 76ers, Celtics, Raptors and Cavaliers all hold better odds to win the Eastern Conference, and even the Heat and Pacers are often mentioned by pundits before getting around to Detroit.
A quiet offseason is the biggest reason behind the lack of excitement -- the most notable thing to happen was a contract dispute with all-star center Jalen Duren. Especially in contrast to the splashy moves of teams like Philadelphia, Miami and Toronto. But at least one person is holding out hope that Detroit already has everything it needs to not only take
a step forward, but power all the way through to the NBA Finals.
"I'm going with my guys," Pistons legend Richard Hamilton told FTW. "It was our first time there last year. We got beat up a little bit. Cade [Cunningham] was hurt. That's the thing people don't talk about. Cade came back at a time where most guys have their rhythm. If you watch that Orlando series, sometimes he would have more turnovers than assists. And that's just him getting his rhythm after missing so many games.
"So I just feel as though with a healthy Cade Cunningham, it might just be my revenge -- even though I'm on the other side -- of Detroit versus San Antonio. And this time, we go to the River Walk and we come back with a championship."
It's a compelling argument by Hamilton, who was on the losing end of a Spurs-Pistons finals in 2005 as Detroit was seeking to go back-to-back. Even out of rhythm, Cunningham averaged 28.1 points and 7.5 assists. So, there's presumably another level the 25-year-old can take his game. We know Duren can play better, as his disappointing postseason was at the root of his holdout. Ausar Thompson is the other piece of that puzzle, as another young player on the roster with room to grow.
As for Hamilton's pick to win the West, the Spurs are less surprising after last year's run to the finals. But Hamilton said he was high on their potential even before then.
"I do have the Spurs. Because that unicorn they got over there, that alien they got over there, it's different."
This article originally appeared on For The Win: A totally unbiased Rip Hamilton made the least surprising 2027 NBA Finals prediction
