Cade Cunningham‘s backcourt partnership with Jaden Ivey was delayed by Cunningham’s season-ending shin injury. Cunningham was impressed by Ivey’s growth this season and can’t wait to see how they’ll blend together for the Pistons next season, Keith Langlois of Pistons.com writes.
“The pace and the poise he showed at the end of the year, I knew he was going to be that but I didn’t realize he was going to pick it up so fast,” Cunningham said. “To see that was huge for the team and huge for him to feel that. He’s only going to take more steps like that every year he’s playing. With his work ethic, he’s going to be great. I’m excited for him and I’m excited to play with him.”
We have more on the Pistons:
- Cunningham says he’s making steady progress from shin surgery, reports Mike Curtis of The Detroit News (subscription required). “I’m at full-body weight in running right now, which was a big step for me,” Cunningham said. “I’m shooting jump shots now. I’m doing a little bit of changing direction right now. Not too much, as far as running up and down and changing direction yet, but the next week or two weeks, I should be getting that going. I’m progressing pretty fast right now. I’m at a point now that I’m at full body weight; I can do a lot more.”
- The players spoke of their respect for their now former coach, Dwane Casey, and are happy that he’ll remain with the organization in a front office role, Curtis relays in another subscriber-only story. “Definitely sad to see him step down, but I know he said he’s going to stay around the team and around the organization,” rookie Jalen Duren said. “I just talked to him. I thanked him for giving me the opportunity.”
- The Pistons will have a top five lottery pick and the cap flexibility to make moves to upgrade the roster. Cunningham knows expectations will ramp up in the fourth season under general manager Troy Weaver, according to Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press (subscription required). “We have a big summer ahead of us, because next year is the year for us,” Cunningham said. “It’s a huge year, a year that we need to take another step and improve and be better.”
- Owner Tom Gores lauded Casey’s willingness to go through the rebuild process and develop a young roster in a statement relayed by The Detroit News. “Under the leadership of General Manager Troy Weaver, he has helped re-set our culture and restored our aspiration to compete at a high level and contend for championships,” he said. “Of course, there is still lots of work to do. But, as we enter the next phase of this rebuild, I am optimistic about our team and our direction, and very excited about the newest member of our front office, Dwane Casey.”
All the credit to Casey in the world. Dude is a great cosch, a great leader, and a great man.
Depending on who Detroit is able to get, if they can get Wemby, this team could be scary good in a year or so…Even still, they’ll have the space to fortify their roster with more veteran depth and talent, they’ll be able to add another high profile young player in the top 5, and it’ll be another season for their young core to really gel together..
At the very least, the Pistons should be a fun team to watch next season..
Detroit got first overall pick Cade Cunningham not so long ago, plus what 6th overall Ivey more recently. They also have two former second overall picks in Wiseman and Bagley plus other former first round picks such as Duren, Stewart, Hayes and Hampton.
I know it has no affect of draft lottery but I hope they don’t get first overall again. They don’t need Victor they have multiple centres and big men they need to develop. I’d like to see them fall to 3rd overall and get Brandon Miller. They need a SF, he can hit 3’s, plays defence, has a big solid frame, looks ready to contribute right away.
Same for Houston, they took Jalen and Jabari early in recent years and have other former first round picks like Sengun, Christopher, Eason, Garuba, Porter Jr and Washington. They haven’t had a first overall in a while but they also don’t exactly need Victor. Sengun is a pretty similar player. What they need more so is a point guard and leader. KPJ has tried his eyes but I think Scoot Henderson at second overall should be there guy. Scoot Green and Jabari that’s their core. KPJ drops into a sixth man role which I think suits him and maybe you start to trim off the young guys and look to start building a side that wants to win games. They need vets and experience to help direct these young guys and build a positive culture.
That’s why I’d like to see San Antonio get Victor. They need a big name star, they also do really well with foreign talent (Parker, Manh and more recently Jakob) and Pop does well with bigs in particular. That would be a great spot for him and I think he would thrive in that system. Lots of ball movement, everyone gets touches and buckets, wouldn’t be asked to do to much and have good trainers working with him. Smaller market team so a little more sheltered and protected from the huge expectations and will have time.
If he ends up in Detroit or Houston everyone will want them to be a playoff side right away especially after the year OKC just had. Victor will be expected to drop 20-10 every night and be one of the best centres right away. That just seems a little unrealistic with his frame and going from euro ball to the more physical NBA. In San Antonio I think Pop, restricts his minutes a little, really develops him behind closed doors and although the numbers look alright he continually improves without as much noise.
Encouraging news on Cade Cunningham.
Is there an update on Chuck Cunningham?
He left Milwaukee in 1956.
Tom Gores is awful owner. He wants Juwan Howard as the next coach.