Spurs Rumors: Trade for Cade Cunningham of the Pistons?

Spurs Rumors: Trade for Cade Cunningham of the Pistons?

A fictitious deal that would send Cade Cunningham to the San Antonio Spurs was suggested on a recent episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast.
Two hours ago, Jonas Kubicke
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At the NBA Trade Deadline on February 8, the San Antonio Spurs are expected to be buyers despite being the Western Conference’s bottom-feeders. The Spurs possess a cache of future selections that they can utilize to select players to complement Victor Wembanyama or exchange for proven players.

Currently, with the season at 4-22, the Spurs need to fully commit to Wembanyama’s development. He is starting to show that he is a once-in-a-lifetime talent, and the rebuilding process is clearly centered around him with four complementary players. The Spurs are in dire need of backcourt support, and Jeremy Sochan has been playing excellently with Wembanyama since he was relieved of his point guard responsibilities.

December 15, 2023, San Antonio, Texas, USA: Victor Wembanyama (1) of the San Antonio Spurs dunks a basket against the Los Angeles Lakers at Frost Bank Center in the first half of the game.
December 15, 2023, San Antonio, Texas, USA: Victor Wembanyama (1) of the San Antonio Spurs dunks a basket against the Los Angeles Lakers at Frost Bank Center in the first half of the game.

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Two trades with the lowly Detroit Pistons were suggested by Bill Simmons of the Ringer as potential solutions for the Spurs’ problems. The first is really simple to understand:

Bojan Bogdanovic is acquired by the New York Knicks; Cedi Osman, Doug McDermott, and second-round picks in 2024 and 2025 are acquired by the Detroit Pistons; and Killian Hayes and Evan Fournier are acquired by the San Antonio Spurs.

Former 17-point-per-game scorer Evan Fournier is not the long-term backcourt solution San Antonio needs. While it’s unlikely that McDermott or Osman will help the team win in the long run, Killian Hayes is an intriguing player who struggles with shooting. Although he can pass the ball to Devin Vassell or Wemby, his defense is overstated, and he is not the star duo the Spurs are searching for. The Spurs’ primary motivation for pursuing it? Simmons jokingly said, “Wemby has French guys to hang out with.”

Simmons and his visitor Ryen Russillo remain in Detroit in order for the Spurs to sign a star player.

Simmons queries, “Why can’t the Spurs trade for Cade Cunningham?” “They may award Tornonto’s first pick of the year, which is protected in the top six, and Detroit’s first-round selection, which would be a pick in the top five or top six this year. They could offer them Chicago’s [2025] first and Atlanta’s ’25 first.Say f*ck it, Wemby’s special, that’s what I mean. Why do we still have to wait? Not even that good of a draft. Detroit is a catastrophe, let’s go grab Cade Cunningham right away.

For the league’s bottom-dwelling Pistons, Cunningham is now averaging 22.2 points, seven assists, and a steal. The worst shooting lineup in the NBA surrounds him, and there is essentially no spacing. Imagine how effective he would be with Wemby, Vassell, Sochan, and Johnson!

Undoubtedly, Detroit would never pursue it. That would mean the owner, Tom Gores, who isn’t there, having concern for his team. It would include cleaning house, sacking General Manager Troy Weaver and his staff, and giving the reins to new management along with a ton of draft picks. It would be an admission of defeat because Weaver found himself in precisely the same circumstance when he was appointed in 2020.

Russillo stated, “[Detroit] could lose every game for the rest of the year.” “The front office is reluctant to acknowledge its mistakes and apologize to the fan base.” The Pistons, who are the poorest in the NBA, are not in the midst of a losing streak. They have a ton of youthful talent and are attempting to win games, but their roster is put together horribly. To clean house would be to toss aside a four-year rebuild and start over, something Michiganders cannot comprehend.

December 15, 2023; USA, San Antonio, Texas; During a break during the first half of the San Antonio Spurs’ game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Frost Bank Center, head coach Gregg Popovich speaks with the players.
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The Pistons just won’t let Cunningham go, even if the Spurs make an outrageous offer for him to create the best young core in the game. That would be like waving the white flag.

Sadly, the Spurs won’t be able to find Wembanyama a pick-and-roll running partner until the next draft. Fans should simply enjoy the voyage, take in everything that Wemby has to offer, and bide their time till the clouds clear.

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