The Detroit Pistons lost another close game last night on the road to the New Orleans Pelicans and you have to wonder how things might have been different if Cade Cunningham had been in the lineup.
The Pistons have been wondering that for 15 games now, as Cunningham continues to sit with what was initially called a stress fracture in his shin.
Early on in this process, it seemed likely that Cunningham would quickly make a decision about whether to have surgery, but that hasn’t happened.
In fact, it’s pretty much been radio silence from the Pistons, which makes me wonder if even they know what Cade is ultimately going to decide. Continue to rest and he might be able to come back this season. Have the surgery and he will certainly now miss all of this season, and if he doesn’t make a call soon, perhaps some of the offseason as well, which would be the nightmare scenario in Detroit.
The fact that Cade Cunningham still hasn’t had surgery is a pretty good indication that he might not get it at all, and we are getting some other signs that he might try to return this season.
Detroit Pistons: Is Cade Cunningham coming back this season?
Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons have been coy about his injury, but coach Dwane Casey did say he and the team would stand by any decision he made. I’m not so sure Cade knows at this point, though I am certain he does not want to sit out the rest of his second season in the league.
He gave fans a slight tease before the win over Miami, when he was out with the team warming up pregame and getting some shots up. While he’s definitely not flying around or even moving much, he doesn’t necessarily look like a guy who has given up on the idea of a comeback this season:
Jalen Duren and Cade Cunningham getting some shots up ahead of tonight’s game against the #Heat. pic.twitter.com/FtoHUyhoKr
— Mike Curtis (@MikeACurtis2) December 6, 2022
My forensic analysis of this video tells me that Cade is definitely still being delicate with that shin, but that maybe he’s making some progress considering the medical staff is even letting him take shots.
I have no idea what to make of this, but Cunningham and the Pistons are going to need to make a decision soon, as this particular surgery has a fairly long recovery period and putting it off even more could jeopardize next season as well.
I’m choosing to be positive and hope this is a sign that rest is all he will need and at some point Cade Cunningham will return to the Pistons this season.
Stay tuned.