The Detroit Pistons flamed out in the second round of the playoffs this year, losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers in seven games. This summer, they need to get Cunningham more help on the offensive end. But as they think about how the New York Knicks dispatched Victor Wembanyama in the NBA Finals, Cunningham should be thinking about what could have been.
Wembanyama was the first pick in the 2023 NBA Draft – a draft the Pistons should have had the first pick in. Detroit had the best odds. The Pistons should have been able to pair Wembanyama with Cunningham. But the Spurs jumped up, the Pistons fell back, and now, all Cunningham can do is dream about the pairing that should have been.
He and Wemby should have been teammates in Detroit.
Pistons could have had Cade Cunningham and Victor Wembanyama
The lottery is set up the way it is (or was) for a reason. The worst team in the league isn’t always supposed to get the first pick. Otherwise, what’s the point of having a lottery at all?
That said, it was a frustrating time for the Pistons. Outside of landing the first pick in 2021, taking Cunningham, they went through a string of unlucky draft lottery Ping-Pong ball bounces.
But nothing compared to the unlucky bounces they endured in 2023. The year that they could have landed Wembanyama and formed one of the best duos in the NBA.
Wembanyama was the best draft prospect since LeBron James. He might even have been a better draft prospect than James. He was that highly touted coming out of France.
Now, just a few seasons into his career, he’s already one of the best players in the NBA. He just led the San Antonio Spurs to the NBA Finals as a 22-year-old. The sky is very clearly the limit for Wemby.
Just imagine what Wembanyama could have looked like in Detroit next to Cunningham. One of the best point guards in the NBA playing next to an elite defensive talent like Wemby.
Cunningham could step onto the Spurs right now and be their best offensive player. And that’s the exact type of guy Wemby needs to be playing alongside.
If Wemby were on the Pistons, not only would they be the favorites in the East, but they would have one of the best duos in recent memory on the roster.
But now, all there is to do is sit back and think about what could have been.
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