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In the weeks after LeBron James informed the Lakers he wouldn't return for his 24th season and before he decided to sign with the Sixers, the Detroit Pistons were never seriously mentioned as a suitor for the 41-year-old, though they finished as the top team in the East. Cade Cunningham even mentioned last week on the Sports Seriously podcast that he didn't make a recruiting pitch to the superstar. "I didn't give LeBron a call. I don't think he would have cared to hear what I had to say about it." Now, LeBron probably wouldn't have outright dismissed what Cunningham had to say if the guard had made a pitch, but then again, it likely wouldn't have made James really consider Detroit. The Sixers, Heat, Warriors, Cavaliers, and even the Timberwolves and Nuggets all seemed to be at the front of the pack for LeBron's services. If he were interested in the Pistons, Detroit would've popped up somewhere along the way as a suitor. Maybe then, Cunningham would've reached out. None of that matters now, as LeBron made his choice, but the Pistons can still play spoiler in James' return to the East. Pistons weren't a suitor for LeBron When news broke that James was signing with Philadelphia, it was a shocker, even though the Sixers were among the top teams in the running. The assumption was that he'd either go to the Heat or the Cavaliers, but he was clearly piqued by what Philly had done during the offseason frenzy. Detroit didn't trade for Jaylen Brown, nor a player of his caliber, but made a series of smaller moves. James said after signing with the Sixers that he still wants to "have a chance at the feeling of winning another championship." He sure will have a shot at doing that with a Philadelphia team that looks different than it did last season, but he could've also had a chance to do that in Detroit, though the Pistons aren't comprised of as many stars. LeBron should've considered a move to Detroit You can say that Detroit has flown under the radar this summer, besides the ongoing Jalen Duren restricted free agency saga. That is the biggest offseason domino still left to fall, and how it lands could dictate the direction the Pistons are headed. That uncertainty, as in how the center will feel about the organization after months of not agreeing to a deal, isn't ideal. Still, Detroit won 60 games last season, which is no easy feat. It made it to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2008, though it took seven games to make it past the Magic in the first round. On the flip side, a far more experienced Cavaliers team beat the Pistons in seven games in the semifinals. Detroit is, and has been, on the rise. It might not be regarded as a true contender yet, but that doesn't mean the Pistons, led by Cunningham, can't make a deep playoff run. They addressed their dire need for more shooting this summer and, unlike the Sixers, aren't facing the same identity questions or doubts about whether everyone can stay healthy. As an all-time great who appreciates the sport's history and significance, Detroit would've made more sense for James than some would like to believe. He'd get the thrill of playing for some of the most passionate fans in the league, something he noted he was looking forward to about Sixers fans after signing with Philadelphia. All the offseason hype has centered on the Sixers, and understandably so, but don't forget about the Pistons. They won't have a second to breathe once the season starts, jumping right into the fire, including two games in the first eight days against LeBron and Philadelphia. It will still be very early, but Detroit can start to show James what he missed out on. What will matter most, though, is how things shake out when the playoffs roll around. A lot of people have probably already penciled in New York or Philadelphia to make it out of the East, but, hey, don't forget about this Detroit team, as LeBron did.