Cade's Lung: Another Gut Punch to Detroit's Rebuild

Here we go again. Just when you thought the Detroit Pistons might catch a break, Shams Charania drops the news: Cade Cunningham is out indefinitely with a collapsed lung. A *collapsed lung*. Not a sprained ankle, not a tweaked hamstring. This is serious stuff, and it's another brutal blow to a team that just can't seem to get out of its own way.

Look, Cunningham has been the guy. The centerpiece. He was averaging 22.8 points and 7.3 assists this season, carrying a massive load for a Pistons team that currently sits at 2-9. He even had a 37-point, 9-assist night against the Suns earlier this month, showcasing the kind of star potential everyone in Detroit has been clinging to. Now, that's all on hold. The initial timeline is weeks, maybe longer, and you don't rush something like this. Danny Green, who's seen a lot in his career, noted on Run It Back that it’s a “scary situation” and something that takes time. He’s right. This isn’t a minor injury.

**The Treadmill of Misery Continues**

Thing is, this feels like an all too familiar story for the Pistons. Remember last season? Cunningham played just 12 games before a shin injury shelved him for the rest of the year. He had surgery in December 2022. That entire year was essentially a wash, a season where fans desperately wanted to see him develop, to take the reins. Instead, it was more lottery talk. And here we are, barely a month into the new season, and their franchise player is sidelined again.

This isn't just bad luck; it's a pattern that's starting to define this "rebuild." The Pistons haven't won more than 23 games since the 2018-19 season when they went 41-41. They finished last season with a league-worst 17 wins. They’ve gone 14-68, 20-52, 23-49, 20-62, and 17-65 over the last five years. That's a lot of losing, and a lot of high draft picks that haven't translated into wins yet. They picked Cunningham first overall in 2021. Jaden Ivey went fifth in 2022. Ausar Thompson was taken fifth this year. You’d think with that kind of draft capital, they’d be showing more progress.

But without their best player, who's going to step up? Killian Hayes has had some moments, but he’s not a primary playmaker. Jaden Ivey’s shot selection remains a work in progress, even with his explosiveness. Someone like Marcus Sasser, who had 26 points against the Bulls on October 28, will get more run, but he’s a rookie. This isn't just about one guy being out; it's about the entire offensive identity having to shift on the fly, again.

Here's the hot take: The Pistons need to seriously consider whether Cunningham can be the iron man required to lead a franchise out of the cellar. Two major, season-altering injuries in consecutive seasons for a guy who's supposed to be the foundational piece? It's fair to start asking tough questions about his long-term durability and whether they should adjust their entire approach around him. They've invested everything in him.

This isn't about blaming Cade. It's just a brutally tough break for a player and a team desperate for a glimmer of hope. But the reality is, another extended absence for their best player pushes that hope further and further away.

Bold prediction: The Pistons will finish with fewer than 15 wins this season.