The Detroit Pistons are playing the Milwaukee Bucks in their second preseason game tonight, and Giannis Antetokounmpo has been all over the trade rumors already, so it’s only natural we talk about hypothetical trades between the two teams.
I’ve already outlined all of the reasons the Pistons are not trading for Giannis, namely that they don’t have the matching contracts to send back without completely gutting their roster. They’d also have to sell off their future for the possibility of short-term gains that may not even come after the team is left with no depth, draft picks or trade assets.
That’s not going to stop the rumors from coming, as it’s fun to think about Giannis on the Pistons until you have to answer how it happens and what comes next.
During a discussion of this with a reader, I was posed with the insane hypothetical of trading Cade Cunningham straight up for Giannis Antetokounmpo, a proposition that is never going to happen, but one that is interesting, nonetheless.
Would either team do it? I know one of them wouldn’t.
Trading Cade Cunningham for Giannis Antetokounmpo: The Pistons walk away laughing
Just so this is clear, I'll go into all bold caps: THIS ISN’T GOING TO HAPPEN AND NO ONE IS SUGGESTING IT WILL OR SHOULD.
That being said, I am curious whether either team would do it.
The Bucks could probably sell this to their fans, as they’d be getting a significantly younger player who isn’t at Giannis’ level now but has already made an All-NBA team before the age of 24, so they’d at least get a real building block in the deal.
Given what Giannis means to the franchise, I still doubt the Bucks would do it, as they’d have to sell the idea of a future rather than the immediate present MVP candidate they already have, one who is the face of the franchise and beloved by the fans.
But as great as Giannis is, I don’t think the Pistons would do this either, as Cade is nearly seven years younger than Giannis and has already shown the present and future are bright. He should end up in the top ten of the MVP voting again and is an easy player to build around.
Cunningham has also embraced Detroit, wants to be there and is OUR guy, also beloved by the fans, who couldn’t be more excited for his career in the Motor City.
It’s an interesting hypothetical and nothing more, and one both teams would likely want no part of, though the Bucks would at least give it some consideration.