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By Anne Erickson
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The Pistons have spent the past few seasons putting together a young core that finally feels like it's heading in the right direction. Cade Cunningham remains the centerpiece, but every rising team needs fresh talent that can come off the bench and change the pace of a game or give vets some downtime. That's where Ebuka Okorie enters the picture.
Detroit acquired the No. 17 overall pick via a trade, and he wasted very little time showing why the organization was so high on him.
Okorie was one of the more entertaining players to watch during Summer League, averaging 18.2 points while consistently putting pressure on opposing defenses. His best performance came against the Miami Heat, where he had 29 points and looked completely in control from start to finish. It wasn't just the scoring that stood out. It was how easily he got to his spots and how comfortable he looked doing it.
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That's what makes him such a good fit in Detroit.
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Okorie thrives attacking downhill, using his quick first step to force defenses to react. Every roster needs players who can create something when an offensive possession starts to stall, and that's an area where he already looks surprisingly polished. He brings a different kind of energy to the backcourt, too, one that complements Cunningham instead of competing with him.
The Detroit Pistons aren't asking him to carry the offense as a rookie, and that's probably the best situation for him. Playing behind an established lead guard allows Okorie to focus on what he does best, like giving Detroit another reliable scoring option whenever the second unit checks in.
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There's also a sense that the organization believes he's ready sooner rather than later. Opportunities aren't guaranteed in the NBA, but meaningful minutes appear to be well within reach if he continues playing with the same confidence he showed in Las Vegas.
Pistons fans may not have to wait very long before he's making an impact on a nightly basis.
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