The Detroit Dilemma (CHA/HOU/POR)

[eitanr]

The Pistons fan base has been incredibly patient having survived the back half of Dumars’ moves, Bowser and Weaver. They now have a team that seems to make sense and may even battle for a play in spot.

Better yet, watching Pistons games on LP, the fan base is showing tremendous life around this competitive unit.

BUT…
1. The next two drafts are suppose to be crazy good
2. This team, as presently constructed, still seems it has a play-in/first rd and out ceiling. No, I’m not talking about this year, it seems that way for next 2-3 years. As excited as everyone is, this has some recent big 3 Bulls energy to it.
3. On a larger convo, is Cade really the guy you want as your top usage talent for the next 5-10 years? He has some Luka in him…but in the following way:
A. He kinda slows down offense and needs more time to get into his moves
B. This causes other talents to do more standing around and not feel as integrated
C. His shooting is at a level where that should get anyone excited
D. He’s still quite turnover prone

Now, before you say - well Cade can be a number 2 to a great number 1…how do you propose Detroit actually get that 1? I believe the next two drafts present the greatest opportunity to find that true 1, and moving Cade is the likely answer to accomplish this…

Instead, I’d consider moving Cade for talents with just as high or even higher ceiling, but are not as far along in their trajectory. They may make Detroit worse this season, thus increasing their odds of netting a top pick, but can start hitting their strides more in line with when better drafted talent will arrive.

Here are some targets:

1. Brandon Miller for Cade construct
- charlotte has their 1 in Ball, and Charlotte is playing way better without Brandon. Cade could be a bit more of a win now replacement who makes more sense for now and future
-miller is more adaptable than cade around non spacers like ivey/thompson. also can fit into various positions pending who is selected

2. Sheppard/Thompson for Cade
-houston is getting antsy and a more proven wing can get them to playoffs
-pistons go twinning and perimeter defensive depth

3. cade for scoot/sharpe
-blazers consolidate and run a more sensible unit
-pistons take the biggest swing here and would likely need to do way more moves to create some sense.

the moves also reset the cap extension deadline on incoming youth vs having to pay Cade and let this at best purgatory situation play out.


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[HornetJail]

1. Brandon Miller for Cade construct
- charlotte has their 1 in Ball, and Charlotte is playing way better without Brandon. Cade could be a bit more of a win now replacement who makes more sense for now and future
-miller is more adaptable than cade around non spacers like ivey/thompson. also can fit into various positions pending who is selected

I know I'm supposed to give constructive criticism, but all I can do is laugh here. you didn't think this through for Charlotte at all



Portland one is ok if the Blazers are ready to move on from Scoot (which I'm not until they are able to build an actual offense)

[Myth]

This is a tough call as a Blazers fan. One reason is Cade’s stats are great, but I don’t really know enough about him to know why his reputation isn’t on par with those stats? Is his reputation a side effect of team record, or is team record a side effect of his stats being better than he is effective? How is Cade as a defender? His contract jumping up immediately is pretty tough to give up 2 young guys with potential, but obviously sure things are valuable. Blazers almost would need to land Flagg or something that helps immediately, otherwise Cade may just elevate us enough to long term treadmill.

[JRoy]

I like CC but want to see what Sharpe looks like this year.

[LarsV8]

I don't think I would take Cade for free at this point.

[wemby]

This is a tough call as a Blazers fan. One reason is Cade’s stats are great, but I don’t really know enough about him to know why his reputation isn’t on par with those stats? Is his reputation a side effect of team record, or is team record a side effect of his stats being better than he is effective? How is Cade as a defender? His contract jumping up immediately is pretty tough to give up 2 young guys with potential, but obviously sure things are valuable. Blazers almost would need to land Flagg or something that helps immediately, otherwise Cade may just elevate us enough to long term treadmill.

It isn't a close call at all if you're unbiased. If Pistons offer Cade for Scoot and Sharpe, you take that and run before they finish the sentence. Scoot and Sharpe have much more of a bust potential than most Blazers fans are willing to admit, you take Cade, Avdija, Camara, Clingan, move Grant for younger guys/picks, get one more high end prospect in '25, and you're settled. Much better foundation.

[Colbinii]

The problem here is the idea that Cade is somehow going to win games on his own. He isn't. No offense to Cade, he could go from a bottom-end starter to a Top 30 player in the NBA and the Pistons would still be lucky to win 25 games.

If the Pistons win enough games this year to get into the Play-In, there would need to be development across the board with multiple young players taking large steps in unison and Harris/THJ turning back the clock. Perhaps with daylight saving coming up their will turn back the clock one hour, but I doubt they turn it back 3 years.

The most likely scenario is this: Detroit is going to develop the core young guys, eat some salary around the deadline (potentially with THJ) and make some marginal moves for some marginal assets. Then they can call up their 2-way and G-league prospects and let them finish out the last 2 months of the season.

During the season, there should be stretches of Cade and Co looking competent but the idea that Cade Cunningham is somehow good enough to keep the Pistons out of the running for a Top 5 pick is laughable and falls into the homerism category.

[kdawg32086]

I would probably do that as a Blazer fan. Cade and Simons might be a nice back court combo. Cade is probably also closer in age to the team's core than Scoot and Shaedon too.

[jbk1234]

All of these need to wait until next summer due to his extension. Not one of them is legal. Enjoy the season and reevaluate.

[Laimbeer]

The Pistons' off-season was a disaster. Reached for another ill-fitting wing in Holland to go with Thompson and Ivey. Jumping the gun on giving Cade the max when they had another year. Bidding against no one and overpaying Tobias Harris and taking on Tim Hardaway Jr.'s deal for SRPs. The only credit I'll give is the willingness to eat Monty's deal, though I don't love the Bickerstaff hire.

[b33nine]

Don't think I'd do both Scoot and Shaedon for Cade. I'd consider one + assets, but not both. If Portland were going down that path I'd want them to then try and make a trade for Ingram as a follow up, and push to "compete" right away. This is assuming ownership is over purposely being bad and actually prefers the treadmill (not saying that's the worst mentality).

[Myth]

Don't think I'd do both Scoot and Shaedon for Cade. I'd consider one + assets, but not both. If Portland were going down that path I'd want them to then try and make a trade for Ingram as a follow up, and push to "compete" right away. This is assuming ownership is over purposely being bad and actually prefers the treadmill (not saying that's the worst mentality).

I’d want a legit swing at Flagg before committing to a Cade/Ingram future. That just sounds like a treadmill team to me.

[Norm2953]

unclear how Pistons fans view their coaching staff but it would be interesting to see how
Scoot/Sharpe develop under another coaching staff.

[cgf]

OT but those Bulls were in first place when Lonzo broke. I thought they were overachieving at the time, but they weren’t necessarily destined for the play-in / a first round exit.

[Walton1one]

I would probably do that as a Blazer fan. Cade and Simons might be a nice back court combo. Cade is probably also closer in age to the team's core than Scoot and Shaedon too.

The reverse of this scenario is more likely IMO, Cade & Simons could work well together FOR DET.

[KembaWalker]

I have low expectations for the TT board and yet it finds new ways to disappoint me every time. I’m trying to even reason out a way someone could think Ball and Cade is a better fit than Ball and Miller. The explanation in OP obviously makes no sense because they haven’t even played together in any meaningful way yet. But if you were trying to theorycraft a wing to play next to what you call the #1 on the team in LaMelo you'd pretty much have Brandon Miller. they just need to actually you know..play together

[BlazersBroncos]

I would probably do that as a Blazer fan. Cade and Simons might be a nice back court combo. Cade is probably also closer in age to the team's core than Scoot and Shaedon too.

The reverse of this scenario is more likely IMO, Cade & Simons could work well together FOR DET.

I agree here - and think they are 1 or 2-3 teams that might actually bite on Simons - but we are not getting a FRP from DET. They are simply too bad to trade a FRP and already are encumbered w/ the FRP they owe MIN (From the NYK trade).

[Walton1one]

Outside of a 1st (which are tied up (to MIN) potentially until 28') what could DET even offer that was compelling though?

25' 2nd via TOR?
27' 2nd via BRK\DAL (most favorable) or their own in 27'?
28' via LAC\CHA (least favorable)

Outside of some mildly interesting 2nd round picks, I would expect POR would like a young player or two back. Just not sure who\if there is a player they would even have an interest in

[JustBuzzin]

What did Charlotte do to you bro?

[RollingWave]

These fundamental changing of direction of trades could happen, but it's pretty rare and almost never mid season.