Detroit Pistons: Cade Cunningham’s path to All-Star just got tougher

Cade Cunningham hopes to be the next All-Star for the Detroit Pistons and a leap in stats next season could get him there.

Cunningham averaged over 17 points per game to go along with 5+ assists and rebounds, rookie numbers that put him in some exclusive company among active players.

If Cade’s post All-Star game numbers from last season are any indication, he is going to make a big leap in year two and could put up the type of stats that will garner him some All-Star consideration.

But if you look at last year’s All-Star team and factor in some of the movement between conferences, it is going to be tough for Cade Cunningham to crack the All-Star team in his second season.

Detroit Pistons: Cade Cunningham’s chances at the All-Star game

If you look at the guards that were All-Stars in the Eastern Conference last season, you’d think there was a pretty good chance that Cunningham could supplant one of them:

• Tray Young
• LaMelo Ball
• Darius Garland
• James Harden
• Fred VanVleet

Ball’s Charlotte Hornets could take a step back this season, which could hurt his chances. Fred VanVleet was a surprise choice last year and I could see Cade surpassing his stats. Garland’s numbers may go down now that he has to share more of the shots with Donovan Mitchell.

But all of these guys are on teams that will likely be better than the Detroit Pistons next season, which is Cade’s first obstacle.

The second is that two more names were potentially added to this list when the Cavaliers traded for the aforementioned Mitchell (a 3-time All-Star) and the Hawks traded for Dejounte Murray, who made his first All-Star appearance last season.

You can add two more names to the ever-growing list of potential All-Stars and both will likely be on teams that are better than the Pistons.

I still think Cade Cunningham will be in the conversation for All-Star next season, as he is potentially better individually than a lot of these guys, but lack of team success will matter, and the field just got more competitive with the addition of two more All-Stars.