Pistons predicted to land $150 million All-Star to help Cade Cunningham as playoff upset looms originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Cunningham's Detroit Pistons, the East's No.1 seed, are on the verge of suffering a huge upset in the first round of the playoffs. The eighth-seeded Orlando Magic have taken a 3-1 lead in their first-round series -- and other than a blowout loss at Little Caesars Arena in Game 2, the Magic have shown an intensity that has unsettled the 60-win Pistons.
Detroit's season could end as soon as Wednesday night in Game 5. Though the Pistons' core of Cunningham, Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson appears ironclad for the future, Duren's significant struggles against the Magic only further highlight how badly Cunningham needs a bonafide running mate to take Detroit to the next level.
MORE: "S*** ain't over": Jalen Duren makes bold Pistons proclamation against Magic
Cunningham is averaging 29.5 points per game in the Orlando series. But the Magic have taken advantage his high usage rate, and their swarming defense has found numerous ways to turn him over. Cunningham has 24 turnovers in the past three games, the most over that span in NBA history.
ESPN has landed on a way for Pistons general manager Trajan Langdon to help Cunningham: by swinging a trade for seven-time All-Star Kawhi Leonard.
Leonard's future with his hometown Los Angeles Clippers is uncertain following their Play-In Tournament exit. With only one year remaining on his contract, Leonard might have to brace himself for a trade -- and getting to Detroit would give the two-time NBA champion a chance to add a third ring late in his career.
Kawhi Leonard2029 second-round pick (from Memphis via Portland)
Duncan RobinsonCaris LeVertRonald Holland II2027 first-round pick (via Detroit)2029 first-round pick (via Detroit)2031 second-round pick (via Memphis)
Detroit would sacrifice two first-round picks from an asset collection that the franchise is still trying to replenish, in addition to former fifth overall pick Ron Holland and shooting guards Duncan Robinson and Caris LeVert.
But those expiring contracts -- plus Holland's slower development offensively -- could be dangled to the Clippers as Los Angeles retools around youth.
Roping in the Grizzlies as a third team to take on Paul Reed's contract would get the Pistons closer to their goal of acquiring a genuine star to pair with the brilliant -- but overworked -- Cunningham.
"The Pistons going all-in for Leonard would present little risk, considering they are sending three rotational players, a 2027 first-round pick that probably will land in the 20s and a future first-rounder," ESPN's salary cap expert Bobby Marks said of the hypothetical trade.
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