In three weeks, the Pistons learn their lottery fate. No matter what happens, they’ll be adding a player to their opening night lineup guaranteed to be a transformative player.
If things break right, perhaps two of them.
But even if the Pistons suffer the worst possible outcome on May 16 – and, remember, there’s a 48 percent chance, basically a coin flip, they’ll wind up picking fifth on June 22 – they’re getting Cade Cunningham back next season.
And in case the agony of the 56 losses the Pistons endured after Cunningham went down 12 games into the season with a shin injury dulled your memory of just what went missing with his absence, here’s a refresher: Over a four-game span just before we now know the shin injury began to drag him down, Cunningham averaged 27.8 points, 8.8 rebounds and 7.5 assists.
Whoever Troy Weaver settles on next Pistons coach, here’s betting that guy finds a way to fold Cunningham into the lineup.
When the Pistons absorbed the wrenching news that Cunningham would need season-ending surgery to repair the shin injury that had nagged at him for some time, there was one silver lining and two optimistic wishes.
The silver lining was that it was the type of injury that doesn’t come with any threat to long-term durability or capability. The optimistic wishes were that Jaden Ivey would benefit from exposure as a primary playmaker he wouldn’t have gotten with Cunningham around and that Cunningham would benefit by seeing the game from a different perspective and working on his shot and his body to come back stronger than ever.
Ivey took every square inch of advantage of his opportunity, finishing his rookie season with a flourish. As for Cunningham, here’s the way Weaver sees it: “I think this year probably will really turn his career. He’s such a great competitor and mental giant, but young players, that learning process, that’s how you step into your greatness. I’ve seen it. Coach has seen it – how he’s grown.”
Weaver cited players like Blake Griffin and Joel Embiid who missed big chunks of time early in their careers but used it to their advantage to come back even better.
“It propelled them. I think the same thing will happen with Cade. He won’t have a problem fitting in at all. I expect him to be full blast when it’s time.”
Cunningham entered uncharted territory with the decision to undergo surgery and was apprehensive about the prospect of being idled for so long. He’s always radiated winning qualities, but he sounded even more insightful and self-aware when discussing what he learned during his down time.
“More things than I can name,” he said. “It’s been such a long time since I’ve played, there’s so many different thoughts that go through your head as far as where you see yourself in the NBA, what I want to be. Staying consistent with my work is the main thing. I’ve learned what really works for me, something I feel like I really want to apply to my future in the NBA. That’s the main thing. I found a new way of working out, a new way of getting up and going about my day that works for me.”
Cunningham’s value goes well beyond his counting stats, as impressive as those figure to be. He’s a chameleon who can morph into different forms to fit various lineups or to address changing needs. It might take a minute for him and Ivey to figure out a symbiosis, but the possibilities are going to give whomever the next coach will be a breathtaking set of options.
There will be a similar sorting out necessary to find the ideal fit among the four young big men Weaver has amassed – Isaiah Stewart, Jalen Duren, James Wiseman and Marvin Bagley III – but Cunningham’s presence and next-level processing gifts will give it its best chance to thrive.
“I love playing a two-man game with bigs,” Cunningham said, “and we have extremely talented bigs now. It’s almost tough watching them on the court and not being able to be out there with them, but it’s fun to watch. I think it’s all going to come together well. They’re going to make my life easier and I’m going to help make their life easier.”
And that’s the bottom line for the Pistons. No matter what happens on May 16, life gets easier for everyone – the front office, the new coach, the rest of the roster – when Cade Cunningham gets back.