The San Antonio Spurs and Detroit Pistons again find themselves at the bottom of the league standings, and big changes could soon be coming to each team. In fact, both are expected to be active ahead of the trade deadline, though possibly as sellers instead of buyers as they look to secure another high lottery pick.
Doing so won't make either team any better this season, but the Ringer's Bill Simmons recently suggested the framework for a bold trade that could be mutually beneficial.
On Bill Simmons' pod last night, he pitched the Spurs throwing whatever at the Pistons to get Cade Cunningham. Normally I should shrug these hair-brained schemes but 100% co-sign this kind of a chaos.
— Trevor Zickgraf (@TrevorWrites) December 20, 2023
With both teams struggling, they could help each other out of a tough spot, and Simmons proposes the Spurs try and acquire a recent top from the Pistons.
NBA Trades: The Spurs land Cade Cunningham in this spicy deal with the Pistons.
While it is just a framework for a trade—an idea, really—the Spurs cashing in their considerable assets for Cade Cunningham is an interesting thought. Of course, even as he and the Pistons have struggled, Cunningham is still seen as the future of their team.
Though the Spurs do have the assets needed to potentially trade for him should he become available. A hypothetical deal could include the Spurs trading Keldon Johnson and three first-round picks, including the Spurs' likely top-5 pick in the 2024 NBA draft, for Cunningham and Marvin Bagley III.
While the Pistons have given no indication that they would trade Cunningham, that would definitely be a strong offer. After all, it would give them a young starter in Johnson, who's on one of the best contracts in the NBA. They would also have two potential top-5 picks in next year's draft, including their own, and two possible future lottery picks from the Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks.
If the Pistons agreed to the hypothetical deal, the Spurs would get a big playmaker with defensive potential who could solve their issues at point guard. He would also help them continue to build a position-less lineup with rising star Victor Wembanyama. Getting Cunningham would accelerate San Antonio's rebuild and would be a worthy use of three firsts and Johnson.
Meanwhile, the Pistons core as constructed doesn't appear to be anywhere close to being a playoff team, and they could look to shake things up by fielding offers for recent lottery picks such as Killian Hayes, Jaden Ivey, and possibly even Cunningham.
If so, then the Spurs should absolutely take Simmons' advice and go hard after the recent number one overall pick to try and pair him with Wembanyama.
We'll see if a trade happens but for now, you can claim a $150 bonus from FanDuel Sportsbook by picking ANY NBA winner today! Bet $5 or more (with a $10 deposit) on any team to win and you'll get $150 in bonus bets if you're right. Sign up for FanDuel now!