The 2023-24 NBA season is well underway. By now, we’ve got some idea of who each team is. For some teams, that’s better news than it is for other teams.
Take the Detroit Pistons. They’ve received nothing but bad news this year. The Pistons are the worst team in the NBA for a second consecutive season.
By now, this team knows who they are and can’t be happy with what they see. On the other hand, the Brooklyn Nets may be confused. This team isn’t good, but it isn’t bad either.
The Nets are middling, given how much draft capital they owe to the Houston Rockets, making their situation difficult to evaluate. Still, it feels safe to say that the Nets could use a point guard.
How about Cade Cunningham of the Pistons?
NBA Trade Proposal: Brooklyn Nets Land Detroit Pistons’ Cade Cunningham
Detroit Pistons Receive: F Dorian Finney-Smith, 2025 First-Round Pick (PHX via BKN), 2027 First-Round Pick (Top 8 Protected – PHI via BKN), 2028 First-Round Pick (Swap – BKN)
Brooklyn Nets Receive: G/F Cade Cunningham
This is one of the difficulties of evaluating NBA teams. You want to have a solid sample size before you begin evaluating. Yet, for some, the sample size is never large enough.
Where do you draw the line? For a team like the Nets, that’s a difficult question to answer. This team could easily rattle off a long winning streak. We’re not sure who the Nets are.
Simply put, we haven’t seen enough of them. By contrast, it feels safe to conclude that the Pistons are a mess.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons, Brooklyn Nets Updates
This team has lost 18 games in a row as of this writing. Sure, they could improve, but this season already feels lost.
Should they respond to that fact by trading Cunningham?
Why The Detroit Pistons Do The Deal
We know. We know! How could the Pistons move Cunningham already? He’s arguably the most promising prospect on this roster. What exactly do we have the Pistons doing here?
Well, something has got to give in Detroit. Perhaps they don’t need to take a measure as radical at this one. Still, they’ve got to do something.
This roster is poorly designed to complement Cunningham, and for every moment that holds, his trade value declines. So, we’ve got them taking a drastic measure. Following this move, the Pistons would still have an intriguing collection of young talent.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons, Brooklyn Nets Updates
They’d also have two new first-round picks and a swap. Moreover, Finney-Smith is the type of 3-and-D wing that could help them return to respectability.
Should the Nets part with him?
Why The Brooklyn Nets Do The Deal
Cunningham’s season has been complicated. He produces lofty individual stats, but he’s wildly inefficient. His turnover rate is ghastly.
Again – this roster is not built to maximize him. Some fans will say that’s why Cunningham is struggling. He wouldn’t have that issue in Brooklyn. This team has outstanding floor spacing and defense.
They also have a ready-made pick-and-roll partner for Cunningham in Claxton. If he can’t succeed here, he’s unlikely to succeed anywhere.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons, Brooklyn Nets Updates
We think he’d succeed. The Nets need a primary playmaker, and with better pieces around him, Cunningham ought to be a strong one. Once he develops, we’ll get an idea of who he – and his team – is.
