Cade Cunningham has accomplished a lot in his brief NBA career, but he’s never had the experience of playing for a winning team, writes Marc J. Spears of Andscape. The Pistons are moving in that direction and can reach the .500 mark with a victory over Portland on Monday. After overcoming a 1-5 start, Detroit is only one game out of the fifth spot in the East and may finally be a legitimate playoff contender.
“We are really trying to get through that breakthrough where now we are trying to be a real competitive team that is winning games more consistently,” Cunningham said. “[Recently], we had our first three-game win streak in years. We’ve been doing better this [season], but we still haven’t been able to put together wins. We’re still working to get that breakthrough.”
Cunningham admits he often blamed himself during a miserable 2023/24 season, which included a franchise record 28-game losing streak. He understood it would take a while to rebuild after being selected with the No. 1 pick in the 2021 draft, but he expected to be farther along by his third year in the NBA. Even with that frustration, Cunningham never hesitated to make a long-term commitment to the franchise, agreeing to a five-year, maximum-salary extension over the summer.
“I was committed the day I got here,” he said. “The losing streak made me commit even more. I was embraced so well by the city. The way they embraced me and my family was huge for me. Being part of Detroit sports and the culture and understanding everything that comes with Detroit, I do really feel like it is really Detroit versus everybody, and I’ve embraced that. I just want to be a part of Detroit winning. I want to have my own chapter in history.”
There’s more on the Pistons:
- The team hasn’t given up hope that Jaden Ivey can return from his broken left fibula before the end of the season, per Keith Langlois of Pistons.com. Ivey just underwent surgery on Thursday so no timetable has been set for his recovery process, but Langlois notes that the fibula tends to heal more quickly than other leg bones. “His spirit has been good. He’s been positive about the outcome and how he’s going to use this to become even better, even stronger,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “It’s tough. It’s not going to be an easy road. Just as a human, as a teammate, the things you feel you miss out on. But his guys love him a lot and will help him along the way. Knowing J.I., no one’s going to work harder to get back and be better.”
- Rookie forward Ron Holland is working closely with shooting coach Fred Vinson to improve his jumper, tweets Hunter Patterson of The Athletic. Holland is shooting 48.1% from the field, but he’s gone just 14-of-63 (22.2%) from three-point range. “It’s amazing. I’ve never really had a shooting coach before,” Holland said. “… He sees the potential of where I can be as a shooter. Just going day by day with it. I’m really trusting him.”
- The Pistons might be willing to facilitate a Jimmy Butler trade to Phoenix by taking back Bradley Beal from the Suns, suggests Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link). His hypothetical deal would have Tobias Harris and Tim Hardaway Jr. headed to the Heat, with Phoenix possibly sending some of its remaining draft assets to both Detroit and Miami. O’Connor’s trade idea was inspired by a Substack article from Tom Haberstroh, who suggested the Pistons as a third-team facilitator due to their cap room, as well as the various connections between the franchises in Detroit and Phoenix. Suns CEO Josh Bartelstein used to work for the Pistons, while the Suns recently hired Matt Tellem, the son of Pistons vice chairman Arn Tellem.
KOC is no longer w The Ringer
That’s been fixed, thanks.
My message to Kevin O’Connor
Suns 2028 First round pick has been swapped to Wizards
Suns 2030 First round pick has been swapped to Wizards
Yes, Suns can trade away 2031 First
My best idea would be Straight up
Tobias Harris and Tim Hardaway Jr. to the Heat for Butler
After that, Pistons use cap space (3-team deal) to acquire Randle and help Wolves to reduce tax
I did the research
My prediction: Butler to the Pistons
1. Pistons cap space is $14 million as of today and Pistons first round picks look very handsome.
2. Pistons are only one game back from 6th seed
3. Ivey is injured
4. Pistons can help Heat to manage luxury tax going forward
5. It needs 4team deal or 2 separate trades for Pistons
I do think the Pistons should look to add a SG to co star next to Cade but I don’t think Beal is that guys just cause of the contract plus it means losing your starting PF in Tobias and only getting 1 first round pick that’s almost a decade away.
Instead id be looking at guys like Trey Murphy, Donte DiVancenzo, Anfernee Simons, Gradey D1ck, even Zach LaVine I think would be a better option than Beal.
Of those guys THJ and a first for Simons, I’d take that deal a run if I’m the Pistons.
Fontecchio, Reed and a first for Donte, I’d make that deal.
THJ and Beef Stew for Zach LaVine and 2 seconds I’d do that deal also
Pistons would need a LOT of sweetener to take on Beal’s contract, and i highly doubt Beal would wave his NTC to go to Detroit.
Have to agree with Silli, Detroit would be much better off just swinging the trade for Butler themselves. Especially since they are trying to break the losing mentality.
The Heat would probably take it, too. They’re not a team that tends to rebuild; they’d rather retool around Tyler Herro’s breakout and try to get Adebayo right, so they can win games. Still 6th in the depleted East right now. Harris fits right into the starting lineup for more size and shooting at the 4, Highsmith plays the 3, and Hardaway does his 6th man thing.
Not what I would do, tbh, but the Heat often find upside where most people see mediocrity.
I was thinking about the DET getting Butler for those two, and the difference in cap space which MIA could use to get out of the tax this year with another minor move or two.
But I certainly wasn’t thinking they’d do all that just to send him to PHX. DET would have no more reason to swap Butler for Beal and a 2031 FRP than MIA would. Less, really, since Butler hasn’t (yet) indicated he’s hostile to continue playing in DET. A NTC is certainly no less problematic in DET than MIA.
I do have to wonder what a DET fan thinks when he hears what was written in the last few sentences of the article. Seriously? Their cap space is a very valuable commodity with the trade deadline season approaching. Hard to believe DET in the midst of a promising season (with their own needs) would give it up, and take on the worst contract in the sport, to help PHX get Butler. Regardless of who’s kid works there.
Maybe Detroit under Weaver would make the Beal trade, but not under Langdon. I’d also doubt that *Beal* would play for Detroit as of right now. He’s the one with the full NTC.
Well, sure, if they added 5 SRPs. DET is past the point of using their roster as a clearinghouse, or should be.
No, I completely agree. Detroit should only be making marginal subtractions for expiring deals, if they’re out of play-in/playoff contention, at the moment. Any other moves should either be adds or fit trades that make sense long-term. Beal flatly does not. You’re 100% correct that it sounds like nonsense.
Think more. But—ler is all about But
In summer, Butler would ask SNT
Ask Pistons to trade him to Warriors
Therefore Pistons handsome first round pick needs to be protected – which means ugly
IDK what to think of this but its interesting , what’s your thoughts
Det gets MPJ Saric JRich
Mia- Tobias THJ and Nnagi
Den- Buckets
Denvers obv in, Mia I think is in begrudgingly and Det would be the big kicker
Idk where or who picks go at all
Not a huge Porter fan as you know but Det has been trying to stretch the court and its helping and Porters extra 12 mill next year wont really affect them at all as they will seem to fall into {no cap -can use full Mle -still slip tax territory either way }
* I actually kinda see him as a good fit in Det
I don’t like MPJ either, but, as an asset, he’s 100x better than Beal. But I still don’t see it from DET’s standpoint without a FRP. Maybe if DET got Holmes (I mean life can’t be that good for DEN) and didn’t have to take Saric.
Moneys gotta stand but we could swing a denver first to Det
Maybe Det gets Nnagi then Mia gets Saric and maybe 2 2nds from Det to mia
Its an a ugly a** trade but IF Jimmy gets traded I kinda think its going to be of this nature- 3 teamer ugly contracts moving everywhere
I don’t believe DEN can trade a FRP.
But this would work in terms of contracts:
DET: MPJ, Nnaji, Holmes [+ min expiring if needed]
MIA: Harris, THJ [+ 7 mm in cap space]
DEN: Butler
Right now, MIA is 12 mm deep into tax territory. DET can get them completely out of it by taking a few smaller contracts. If so, MIA gets a pretty good deal, as it gets them 2 veteran rotation players, and off the tax rolls. MIA could send some 2nd’s to DET, as would DEN. Still comes down to DET valuing MPJ and to a lesser degree Nnaji (who I have no feel for).
Denver could have a first if Orl and Okc lift their restrictions. Be interesting to see if OKC objected (not normal) in lieu of Butler going to Denver
My trade above oddly didn’t even really use any of Dets cap- They were like +3 mill with Den/Mia -1.5
If Mia wanted to slip the tax
Den- Butler
Mia- Tobi Beasley Saric
Det MPJ Zeke
Shaves 11 M for Mia to get compliment using Dets cap. Det/Mia can split up the first. But agree all depends on Dets view of Porter in a truly bizarre trade