The difference between Pistons superstar Cade Cunningham and other young guards is becoming more obvious as the Grizzlies prepare to move on from Ja Morant. Between Morant's decline on the court and his bad attitude in the locker room, his team has had enough. Unlike Ja, Cade has remained a great presence in Detroit despite his team's flaws and even after enduring a historic losing streak.
Cade Cunningham is a true superstar and leader
Although the Pistons may pursue some roster upgrades, they would never even consider trading away Cade. He's handled the pressure of being their franchise star extremely well. Whether it's his all-around dominance on the court or his sterling leadership off of it, Cade has been an ideal pillar for the Pistons.
Through the ups and downs of his career, Cade has always carried himself with pride and humility. Even when the Pistons set an NBA record with 27 straight losses, he still expressed belief in himself and his teammates to turn things around. The Pistons' dramatic bounceback in the last two seasons would not have been possible without that demeanor from their superstar.
Additionally, Cade's playstyle on the court masks many weaknesses of the team. He's a master at working in tight spaces to create shots for himself and teammates. His offensive excellence as a scorer and playmaker allows the Pistons to lean into their defensive identity. Even less talented scorers and shooters are able to thrive on the Pistons because Cade will put them in the best position to succeed.
And Cade himself is also a valuable contributor on defense. Although he doesn't often guard opposing stars, Cade is disruptive as a help defender and frequently has big plays to win games. Other young star guards around the league, including Morant himself, are often defensive liabilities that their teams have to hide. Cade's ability to hold his own on that end changes the Pistons' priorities entirely.
Ja Morant has reportedly been frustrated with his new coach this season and made his feelings known in the locker room. But Cade did the exact opposite when the Pistons brought in a new coach that held himself and the team to higher standards. Cade's personality and mindset helped him embrace JB Bickerstaff's coaching and bring the whole team on board.
As the Pistons find more and more success, it can be easy to get caught up in expectations and focus on the flaws. Cade definitely has his own shortcomings as a player at times. But it's also important to remember how far the Pistons have come and how much of that is built on their superstar. He's consistently improved and uplifted his entire supporting cast; the Pistons are lucky to have Cade Cunningham.