Detroit Pistons

Jerami Grant has reportedly been included in Ben Simmons trade discussions between the Detroit Pistons and Philadelphia 76ers, according to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. 

The deal would also include another forward, a young player and a draft pick in exchange for Simmons, Pompey adds. 

Pompey adds that Kelly Olynyk and Saddiq Bey were mentioned as players who could potentially be included in a deal. However, the Sixers are reportedly "unlikely" to include either player and instead have focused discussions around Grant. 

"A person close to the Sixers said the team would want a more high-profile player than Grant in exchange for Simmons," Pompey writes. "The source added that the team hasn’t spoken to the Pistons lately."

The Sixers selected Grant in the second round of the 2014 draft. He spent two-and-a-half seasons with the franchise before being traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2016-17 campaign. 

Grant was then traded to the Nuggets before joining the Pistons for the 2020-21 season. The Syracuse product is averaging 18 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game this season while shooting 40.5 percent from the field and 30.9 percent from deep.

Simmons, meanwhile, has yet to play a game this season as his stalemate with the Sixers continues. The 25-year-old complied with the 76ers request to meet with a team-recommended mental health specialist, but he reportedly believes the team is trying to force him back without addressing the deeper causes of their rift.

Simmons' agent, Rich Paul, also said last week that the team pushing the point guard to return to the court could worsen his mental health.

Simmons has been involved in trade rumors since Philadelphia was eliminated from the 2021 postseason. The Minnesota Timberwolves, Toronto Raptors, San Antonio Spurs and Boston Celtics have been linked to the disgruntled guard this year. 

However, the Sixers reportedly have a list of about 30 players who would satisfy them in a Simmons trade. It's unclear if any of the aforementioned teams have any of those players, though Pompey mentions that Brooklyn Nets star James Harden is among the stars Philly is eyeing in a Simmons swap.  

The Detroit Pistons are reportedly interested in acquiring Sacramento Kings forward Marvin Bagley III.

NBA reporter Marc Stein relayed the news on his Substack (h/t Jack Maloney of CBS Sports). 

While in Detroit, I was advised to put the Pistons down as a team to watch as a trade suitor for the Kings' disgruntled Marvin Bagley III.

No trade anywhere is considered likely, sources stressed, until after Dec. 15 arrives and the league's pool of players eligible to be dealt grows considerably. That's the date that trade restrictions on numerous players who signed new contracts in free agency in August gets lifted. 

The Pistons, though, have been tracking Bagley since last season, league sources said—long before the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 fell completely out of favor in Sacramento.

Bagley has played just 10 minutes for the Kings this season as he's fallen out of head coach Luke Walton's rotation entirely. He also reportedly refused to check in during the second half of the Kings' 109-104 loss to the Phoenix Suns, according to Sean Cunningham of ABC10:

Multiple sources told me that Marvin Bagley III refused to check into Sunday's game when Luke Walton called upon him in the second half vs. the Suns.

I didn't report it, wanting to first talk to the Kings coach.

Walton said he & Marvin are in communication and has to be ready pic.twitter.com/m3E6JxaeVk

— Sean Cunningham (@SeanCunningham) November 11, 2021

The Kings selected Bagley with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft. The ex-Duke star has averaged 14.4 points on 50.0 percent shooting and 7.5 rebounds for his career.

Things have not gone well for Bagley in Sacramento, to the point where his father, Marvin Bagley Jr., tweeted at the Kings to request a trade on behalf of his son in January.

A fresh start for both sides would be the best result at this juncture with the relationship between the player and team appearing to be unredeemable.

Detroit could be a good option for Bagley. The Pistons are a rebuilding team with plenty of young players, with Cade Cunningham serving as the centerpiece for their future.

Bagley likely wouldn't be put in the starting lineup with Jerami Grant and Saddiq Bey holding down the fort at forward, but he could find himself with consistent playing time off the bench as he develops his game.

The beginning of his career has been largely disappointing, but the story of his NBA tenure certainly hasn't been written just yet with the forward turning just 23 years old in March.

The Detroit Pistons are set to be without power forward Kelly Olynyk, who suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his right knee Wednesday against the Houston Rockets. The 30-year-old big man will miss at least six weeks.

Chris B. Haynes of Yahoo Sports reported the details of Olynyk's injury. 

Olynyk has been bouncing around the NBA lately, splitting last season between the Miami Heat and Houston Rockets. He signed a three-year deal with the Pistons as a free agent in August. 

After joining Houston's rotation last season, Olynyk averaged 19 points on 54.5 percent shooting and 8.4 rebounds in 27 appearances. He's off to a decent start in Detroit with 12.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game in 10 appearances. 

The Pistons are all about building for the future around No. 1 overall pick Cade Cunningham. They have a promising young core, including Saddiq Bey and Killian Hayes. Olynyk and Jerami Grant are solid veterans who can ease the pressure on those young players. 

Olynyk is going to be a rotation piece for head coach Dwane Casey as long as he is healthy. Until he is able to return, the Pistons will likely rely on Isaiah Stewart as their primary big man for the time being. 

Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham didn't seem too bothered by Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green's trash talk, if his postgame reaction following his team's 112-104 road win Wednesday at the Toyota Center is any indication.

"It depends on what they're saying," Cunningham said when asked about handling trash talk.

"I'll talk too. Nothing that I heard tonight held any weight—it was all for the cameras."

Green notably got a technical foul after a ferocious slam dunk and ensuing trash talk in Cunningham's direction:

Jalen Green trash talked Cade Cunningham after this dunk 👀👀 https://t.co/m8SyooaAJE

— House of Highlights (@HoHighlights) November 11, 2021

The matchup was the first featuring the top two picks in the 2021 NBA draft.

In the end, the No. 1 overall selection's team got the last laugh as Cunningham posted 20 points.

Green also fared well, scoring 23 of his own.

The two teams are scheduled to meet one more time this regular season when Detroit hosts Houston on Dec. 18 at Little Caesars Arena.

In the battle of the top two picks from the 2021 NBA draft, Round 1 went to Cade Cunningham.

His Detroit Pistons got the best of Jalen Green's Houston Rockets on Wednesday night, 112-104, in a marquee matchup between the young stars.

Cade to the bucket with no problem 😤@BallySportsDET | @CadeCunningham_ pic.twitter.com/LYyXHLDFnG

— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) November 11, 2021

3 from deep for @CadeCunningham_ 🔥👀@BallySportsDET | #Pistons

— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) November 11, 2021

It was the first of many future showdowns between No. 1 pick Cunningham and No. 2 selection Green, a rivalry made all the spicier by Green's comments in August that he "wanted to be the No. 1 pick, but as for the location, I didn't want to be in Detroit."

"I wouldn't be stepping outside in Detroit," he added at the time. "There are not many things you can do in Detroit like that. You're going to stay in the gym and then go back to your apartment."

If you don't think Green views this as a rivalry, well, think again:

Jalen Green dunks, lets 'em hear it and gets the technical for it 😅 pic.twitter.com/dDGsQ3CBjz

— ESPN (@espn) November 11, 2021

That added a little heat to Wednesday's highly anticipated matchup. Round 1 lived up to the hype.

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Key Stats

Jerami Grant, DET: 35 points, 5 rebounds

Cade Cunningham, DET: 20 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals

Saddiq Bey, DET: 16 points, 9 rebounds

Jalen Green, HOU: 23 points, 5 rebounds

Christian Wood, HOU: 20 points, 9 rebounds

Kevin Porter Jr., HOU: 18 points, 5 assists

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The Rooks Were Good, But Jerami Grant Stole The Show

Both teams downplayed Wednesday night's matchup as the battle of the top two picks. Then Grant went out and outplayed them both. 

#Pistons Jerami Grant's 21 pts in 3Q were a new career high in any quarter for him (previous was Feb. 17, 2021 in CHI).

— Rod Beard (@ajcRodBeard) November 11, 2021

In the first showdown of Green and Cunningham, so far there has been a clear winner: Jerami Grant.

— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) November 11, 2021

This is why Detroit signed him to a three-year, $60 million deal before the 2020-21 season. At 2-8, the Pistons may not be very good, but they at least have a reliable veteran for the younger players to emulate. 

Grant has had a slow start to the season, averaging just 16.6 points per game coming into tonight. However, the offensive dam finally broke for him against Houston.

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Jalen Green Isn't Shy

There aren't many shots Green is afraid to take. He was averaging 13.3 field-goal attempts per game, though his efficiency was a major issue, shooting just 35.3 percent from the field. 

He wasn't shy on Wednesday either, and his efficiency was a bit better (8-of-20 from the field, 40 percent). He's always good for some flashy highlights, too.

https://twitter.com/HoustonRockets/status/1458609142575345666

https://twitter.com/HoustonRockets/status/1458609411304435712

https://twitter.com/HoustonRockets/status/1458619147911372805

Unlike the Pistons, who have a player like Grant, the 1-10 Rockets don't really have a main source of offense outside of Green (especially since John Wall likely won't play this year). The Rockets need Green to remain aggressive, but it's hard to imagine that being much of an issue.

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What's Next?

The Rockets host the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday at 8 p.m. ET, while the Pistons travel that same day to face the Cleveland Cavaliers and No. 3 pick Evan Mobley at 7:30 p.m. ET.

After missing four games with an ankle injury, Cade Cunningham made his much-anticipated NBA debut for the Detroit Pistons in Saturday's 110-103 win over the Orlando Magic. 

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft was clearly shaking off some rust. He finished with two points on 1-of-8 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds in just 19 minutes. 

🚨 Bring out the MotorCade, Detroit. Cade is in the building. 🚨@BallySportsDET | @CadeCunningham_ pic.twitter.com/9QM1B2Wa2Y

— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) October 31, 2021

Cade Cunningham hustling in his NBA debut 👏 https://t.co/5Ar1Alvu5S

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 30, 2021

Even though the shooting numbers weren't what Cunningham would have liked, he did make his mark as a rebounder. 

Cade Cunningham had 6 rebounds in the 1st quarter tonight vs. ORL, tying the most rebounds in any quarter by a Pistons player in their NBA debut since at least 1997-98 (when NBA first tracked play-by-play data). Zeljko Rebraca had 6 rebounds in the 2nd quarter at DAL (10/30/01).

— Pistons PR (@Pistons_PR) October 31, 2021

Cade Cunningham recorded 7 rebounds in the first half tonight against the Magic, setting the record for most rebounds in a half by a Pistons player in their NBA debut since at least 1997-98 (when NBA first tracked play-by-play data). #Pistons

(via @EliasSports)

— Pistons PR (@Pistons_PR) October 31, 2021

Per ESPN's Eric Woodyard, the Pistons' plan was to play Cunningham between 20-25 minutes. The 20-year-old has been out of action since rolling his ankle during a training camp practice on Oct. 1. 

Head coach Dwane Casey told reporters prior to tipoff what he said to Cunningham before his first game as a professional basketball player. 

He told me yesterday that he's been playing since he was 4, so do what you do since you were 4. So, have fun, compete and don't worry about mistakes, next-play mentality. Again, we all in this room are grownups, and we understand that he feels the pressure, but he shouldn't. He should go out and have fun, compete and let everything else take care of itself as he knocks off the rust and gets back in full swing.

Cunningham's debut coincided with the Pistons' first victory of the season. The franchise avoided its first 0-5 start since the 2012-13 campaign.  

Things will get better for Cunningham moving forward. B/R's Jonathan Wasserman compared him as a prospect to Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic. 

Doncic scored 10 points and shot 5-of-16 from the field in his first NBA game. Early struggles are nothing new for superstar rookies. 

As long as Cunningham's ankle responds favorably to game action, the Pistons should be perfectly happy with what he did tonight.

The Pistons have a quick turnaround, with a game against the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center on Sunday night. It's unclear if Casey will use Cunningham in the second game of a back-to-back right now. 

Cade Cunningham appears to be on the verge of making his NBA debut. 

Per James Edwards III of The Athletic, Cunningham isn't listed on the Detroit Pistons' injury report ahead of Saturday's game against the Orlando Magic. 

Cunningham has so far missed the entire preseason and first four games of the regular season due to an ankle injury. He originally suffered the injury during practice on Oct. 1 when head coach Dwane Casey told reporters he turned it. 

Casey added at that time Cunningham's injury was "very mild."

Three days later, Casey announced there was no timetable for Cunningham's return. 

The Pistons selected Cunningham with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft. Expectations are incredibly high for the 20-year-old. 

Cunningham averaged 20.1 points per game and shot 40.0 percent from three-point range in 27 games as a freshman at Oklahoma State. He was named Big 12 Player of the Year and was a consensus All-America first-team selection. 

The Pistons (0-4) are the NBA's only winless team. Their offense ranks last in the league in scoring average (94.0 points per game) and offensive rating (93.6), per Basketball-Reference.com. 

Detroit's net rating of minus-11.0 ranks 28th in the NBA, ahead of only the Oklahoma City Thunder's (-12.6) and Orlando Magic's (-14.3).    

No. 1 overall pick Cade Cunnigham has yet to take the court for the Detroit Pistons as he recovers from an ankle injury he suffered in training camp. But he'll take a step in the right direction by practicing with the team on Friday. 

"He practiced with [the Motor City Cruise] all week," Pistons head coach Dwane Casey said on Thursday. "He's going to practice with us tomorrow. There's no set date [for his return]."

The Pistons fell to 0-4 this season in Thursday's 110-102 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. Detroit's offense struggled for much of the game before a late fourth-quarter run made the game close.   

With the Pistons set to return home from their three-game road trip for Saturday's game against the Orlando Magic, there is a hope that Cunningham might be able to debut in front of the Detroit fans.

"Hopefully, we’ll get him back sooner than later," Pistons general manager Troy Weaver said on Wednesday. "But I would anticipate hopefully seeing him when we get back off the road."

Cunningham flashed why he was worthy of the No. 1 overall pick during the 2021 summer league. He averaged 18.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game while shooting 50.0 percent from three-point range.

Cunningham's absence has meant more minutes for second-year point guard Killian Hayes. After being limited to 26 games as a rookie because of a hip injury, Hayes has struggled this season. He entered Thursday's game averaging 4.7 points and 2.7 assists.

The Pistons are wisely taking a cautious approach to Cunningham's return. But if they hope to avoid missing the playoffs for the third straight year, they need their star rookie to come back sooner rather than later.     

Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham's ankle will keep him out for a little while longer.

Head coach Dwane Casey told reporters on Friday that the rookie point guard won't travel with the team for their three-game road trip that begins tomorrow. 

Cunningham, the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NBA draft, was ruled out of the Pistons' season opener against the Chicago Bulls because of a sprained ankle. He missed the entire preseason after hurting his ankle early in training camp.

Detroit hopes the 20-year-old Oklahoma State product can turn things around for the franchise. After an eight-year playoff run that included an NBA championship, two Eastern Conference titles and six trips to the conference finals ended in 2009, the Pistons have advanced to the postseason just twice.

Cunningham showed why he was deserving of the No. 1 overall pick during the 2021 summer league. He averaged 18.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game while shooting 50.0 percent from three-point range.

.@CadeCunningham_ (20 PTS) put on a show last night vs. the Rockets 🍿 https://t.co/0h9vRzu6Qn

— NBA TV (@NBATV) August 11, 2021

Cade Cunningham knocked down 7 of 10 threes 🔥

24 PTS | 7 REB | 3 AST#DetroitUp
pic.twitter.com/pUGJmNPzIW

— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) August 14, 2021

Cunningham was a standout player in his lone season at Oklahoma State, averaging 20.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.6 steals. He was voted as a consensus first-team All-American, becoming the first Cowboy to earn the distinction since Bob Kurland in 1944, '45 and '46.

Cunningham was also named Big 12 Player of the Year and Big 12 Freshman of the Year, joining Kevin Durant, Marcus Smart and Michael Beasley to win the awards in the same year.

With Cunningham set to miss time, it leaves the Pistons in a tough spot. Detroit already has a very thin roster and was likely heading toward yet another lottery pick. Cunningham's absence will mean more playing time for second-year guard Killian Hayes, who was limited to 26 games as a rookie because of a hip injury.

The Pistons will rely heavily on Jerami Grant, who averaged a career-high 22.3 points in 2020-21 and was a part of the U.S. men's basketball gold-medal team at the Tokyo Olympics.

Detroit will play the Chicago Bulls, Atlanta Hawks and Philadelphia 76ers before returning home on Oct. 30 to host the Orlando Magic. 

Detroit Pistons rookie Cade Cunningham will have to wait to make his NBA debut, as he has been ruled out of Wednesday's season opener against the Chicago Bulls because of a right ankle sprain.

The 2021 No. 1 overall pick suffered what head coach Dwane Casey called a "very mild" ankle injury during training camp in early October. A few days later, he followed up to say the team's medical staff were taking every precaution with the young playmaker, thus making it difficult to pin down a date for when he'd return to full action.

That return will not come Wednesday.

Cunningham averaged 20.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists in his one season at Oklahoma State. He displayed the kind of potential that made the Pistons justifiably believe he can be the cornerstone of their rebuild.

Jerami Grant was a pleasant surprise for Detroit as he thrived in a larger role than he had occupied with his previous teams. Still, he couldn't prevent the team from finishing with the second-worst record in the league.

As good as the Oklahoma State product is, a 20-year-old rookie can only be expected to do so much in terms of winning in the short term.

A long-term injury to a player as important as Cunningham is to the Pistons' future would be a major cause for concern. If he only misses a brief stretch of games, it's unlikely to change the direction of their 2021-22 campaign.