The Detroit Pistons entered the summer with one clear need in mind: Help Cade Cunningham on the offensive end. They needed to bring in another creator to help him. In a way, it was the same for the Minnesota Timberwolves and Anthony Edwards. But now, a few weeks in, one team has answered the bell, and the other hasn’t. The Pistons have fallen behind in the hunt.
Minnesota landed LaMelo Ball in a blockbuster trade with the Charlotte Hornets, landing a co-star to play next to Ball. Though Ball wouldn’t have worked out in Detroit alongside Cunningham, the Wolves made a move. They took action. So far this summer, the Pistons haven’t done that. The big-swing trade that they clearly need hasn’t happened yet.
Detroit still has time to make it happen, but the Wolves have been much more proactive this summer. And that’s at least a little bit concerning.
Pistons need to make similar trade to LaMelo Ball deal
Edwards and the Wolves have been one of the best teams in the Western Conference for years now. He’s helped them make multiple Western Conference finals appearances, but they have yet to get over the hump and even make the NBA Finals.
They’ve rotated through a few different casts around Edwards, primarily Karl-Anthony Towns and then Julius Randle as his second in command, but now, they’ve pivoted to Ball.
Minnesota has always needed a point guard. A guy who can run the offense next to Edwards while also providing enough scoring to take some of the pressure off him. Ball does that.
Right now, the Pistons need something similar for Cunningham. They need a guy who can score and playmake. Because Cunningham is going way too much for the Pistons’ offense. There’s too much pressure on him. When he struggles, the entire team struggles.
Again, Ball wasn’t the answer for the Pistons. But the fact that Minnesota acted so quickly this summer makes Detroit look a bit slow. Why haven’t they done anything yet?
The Pistons still need to help Cunningham in the same way that the Wolves have helped Edwards with the Ball trade. They need to find the equivalent of Ball, but a guy who fits well next to Cunningham.
They haven’t hit the trade market yet. All Detroit has done is lose Tobias Harris in free agency and replace him with John Collins.
The Pistons need to follow in the Wolves’ footsteps and get Cunningham the help that Edwards now has.
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