After finishing sixth in the Eastern Conference last year, the Detroit Pistons are far from guaranteed a playoff spot going into next season.
They likely have their eyes set on an even higher seed next year as some teams above them have had their rosters decimated by injuries and offseason departures. At the same time, they are sure to be cautious of other young teams who upgraded this offseason in the Magic and Hawks. But there is one surprising team that could make a leap similar to the Pistons last year and become a rival in the East: the Charlotte Hornets.