Pistons may unite Cade Cunningham, $197 million 23.2 PPG Grizzlies star via wild Jaden Ivey swap
The Detroit Pistons face the possibility of an early playoff exit after a narrow loss to the New York Knicks in Game 4, but their season has been marked by significant progress, including their first playoff victory since 2008. General Manager Trajan Langdon may explore bold moves to build a stronger team around star point guard Cade Cunningham, potentially considering a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies for Ja Morant. Morant, a dynamic player with impressive scoring and play-making abilities, is reportedly on the trading block after the Grizzlies' early playoff exit. The proposed trade could involve Jaden Ivey, Tobias Harris, and three first-round draft picks going to Memphis, positioning the Pistons as a formidable force in the Eastern Conference. Nonetheless, the Pistons may also focus on strengthening their wing or frontcourt to complement Cunningham and continue their upward trajectory.
The Detroit Pistons have improved significantly, securing their first playoff win since 2008 by defeating the New York Knicks in Game 2 of their series, despite currently trailing 3-1.
General Manager Trajan Langdon is considering transformative strategies to enhance the team's roster, particularly focusing on supporting Cade Cunningham, their young star.
One potential move involves acquiring Ja Morant from the Memphis Grizzlies, who may be open to trading him after a disappointing playoff performance and leadership concerns.
Ja Morant, at 25, is recognized as one of the NBA's top point guards, combining exceptional scoring, play-making skills, and exciting in-game dunks, making him a valuable asset.
A trade for Morant could involve the Pistons sending Jaden Ivey, Tobias Harris, and multiple first-round picks to Memphis, potentially reshaping the competitive landscape of the Eastern Conference.
The Pistons' strategic focus may also include strengthening their wing or frontcourt positions to create a more balanced team around Cunningham.
Despite the potential first-round playoff exit, the Pistons' future appears promising, and they remain determined to build on their recent successes and aim for championship contention.
The Detroit Pistons have dug themselves a 3-1 hole in their opening-round 2025 NBA Playoff series against the New York Knicks, falling to New York in Game 4 of their series by a score of 94-93 on Sunday after a controversial no-call on a Tim Hardaway Jr. go-ahead three-point attempt in the final seconds of the contest.
Though the Pistons' season may come to an unfortunate ending after a shocking close to Game 4, the franchise could certainly view the 2024-25 season as a massive success. Detroit notched its first playoff victory since 2008 in their 100-94 Game 2 win in Madison Square Garden on Apr. 21 after claiming the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference with a 44-38 regular season record.
Now that Detroit has gained some momentum as one of the fastest-rising collections of young talent in the entire Association, recent reports have indicated that their general manager Trajan Langdon could make some sweeping changes to support his superstar point guard Cade Cunningham while building a future juggernaut in the East.
If Langdon wishes to deal away some of that young talent in an effort to land a superstar to pair with Cunningham, it's possible that the Pistons could contact the Memphis Grizzlies this summer with the thought of acquiring their explosive 2-time All-Star Ja Morant in a franchise-altering trade, while sending Jaden Ivey, Tobias Harris and three first-round draft picks back to Memphis.
"Changes are coming in Memphis, and the Grizzlies might be growing tired of Morant being the team's leader," ClutchPoints' Bailey Bassett wrote Tuesday afternoon.
"The Detroit Pistons are a sneaky team that could make a move for Morant if the point guard ends up on the trading block."
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"The Pistons' future is bright, and they've competed well against the New York Knicks in their first-round matchup."
"If they end up getting eliminated in the first round, they shouldn't stop adding to the roster. Morant is a player who could take them to the next level of true championship contention."
At just 25 years old, Morant has already established himself as one of the best point guards in the entire NBA due to his incredible mix of scoring and play-making combined with status as one of the most electrifying in-game dunkers that the game has ever seen.
In 50 appearances with the Grizzlies this season, the 2020 Rookie of the Year and 2022 Most Improved Player award winner averaged 23.2 points, 7.3 assists and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 45.4% from the field, leading Memphis to a 48-34 regular season record and the Western Conference's No. 8 seed.
After being swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round, Morant's future with the franchise has been called into question. If paired with Cunningham to form a deadly backcourt on the Pistons, the team could plausibly run the East for the next decade.
While the idea of Morant landing with the Pistons is a wildly entertaining one to consider, Langdon and the Pistons would more likely aim to provide the first-time All-Star Cunningham with a wing or frontcourt presence to round out the group's starting rotation for the immediate future.