There’s been no shortage of discussion about the Detroit Pistons finding a second star to pair with Cade Cunningham, but so far, that help hasn’t materialized.
This has been a recurring storyline ever since Cunningham entered the league. He didn’t play alongside an All-Star teammate until this season, and even then, there’s genuine debate about whether Jalen Duren truly belongs in that conversation. Oh, and by the way, Duren may not even be on the roster next year.
Unless you believe Isaiah Joe or John Collins are suddenly going to transform into All-NBA caliber players, Cunningham still lacks a legitimate sidekick who can alleviate some of the offensive burden—especially when the playoffs roll around.
In the meantime, other young stars across the league are being paired with their own co-stars, which leaves Cunningham wondering when the Pistons will finally extend him the same courtesy.
The Pistons are tinkering around the edges while Cade Cunningham’s contemporaries are landing stars
This NBA summer has already been eventful, with several big names on the move—but none of those names are slated to suit up for Detroit next season.
The Raptors, for instance, secured a star running mate for Scottie Barnes by adding Kawhi Leonard. Kawhi made it clear he had no interest in signing with Detroit, so it’s no shock that the Pistons stepped back from that pursuit.
Anthony Edwards now has LaMelo Ball alongside him in Minnesota. Whether or not that’s the ideal fit, the Timberwolves at least made a genuine push to bring in another star to support their franchise player.
Bam Adebayo gets to play next to a certain guy named Giannis, and Tyrese Maxey now has Jaylen Brown as his backcourt partner.
Looking across the league, Cunningham appears to be the only MVP-caliber player without a dependable second scoring option beside him. If Trajan Langdon wants to remain competitive in the Eastern Conference, that’s an issue he’ll need to address.
What’s still available for the Pistons?
Attention now shifts to Trey Murphy III, who is likely the most prominent name still within Detroit’s reach. The Pistons have shown interest but have so far balked at Troy Weaver’s steep demands.
Eventually, they may have no choice but to give in, especially since Eastern Conference rivals have made strides while Detroit has mostly stayed stagnant. Joe and Collins are solid contributors, but in the larger picture, they won’t move the needle much unless additional moves follow.
Cunningham is about to enter his sixth season, and the clock on patience is ticking. If the Pistons don’t match the level of effort their competitors are showing, frustration is bound to mount. Trajan Langdon is clearly exploring every option and is said to be aggressive in his approach, but at some point, that aggressiveness needs to produce tangible results not just fuel for online speculation.
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