Could Cade Cunningham still be playing in the state of Oklahoma next season?

The Detriot Pistons fans had a phrase for their hopes of landing the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, “Fade for Cade”. The Pistons had the second-worst record to end the 2020-21 season and their odds were good in their quest of winning the NBA lottery. Call it good fortune or good luck but the Pistons won the NBA lottery by getting the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft that occurs on July 29th. Saying many Piston fans were ecstatic by the news was an understatement.

It is also the first time in over 50 years that the Pistons have the first overall pick in the NBA Draft. Cunningham is the consensus No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft and there is little doubt that the Pistons would pick anyone but him with the first pick. However, as once famously uttered in the movie the Godfather, “I’ll make him an offer he can’t refuse.” Thunder general manager Sam Presti may give an offer to Pistons GM Troy Weaver that it would be hard for him to refuse.

The trade works according to ESPN’s Trade Machine mainly because of the Thunders trade exceptions that they have available to them. Presti and Weaver conducted a trade recently in March of this year and have worked together since 2008 until Weaver got the job in Detroit. If the Thunder really love Cunningham, they make this offer and if the Pistons don’t think that Cunningham can be the next Luca Doncic, then they must at least consider it.

Personally, having lived in metro Detroit, Piston fans would be furious if Weaver trades the No. 1 pick. However, getting two 2021 first-round picks, two high second-round picks, 2022 unprotected 1st round pick, and a young upcoming player in Dort who is only making approximately 1.5 million a year is very tempting. The Pistons have to give up the No. 1 pick but they swap two second-round picks to move up in the second round and get rid of Joseph’s 12.6 million dollar contract.

For the Thunder, they give up a lot and there is no denying it but they get the top, most sought out player from only 63 miles away from where he played his college ball last season. The Thunder still keeps the No. 18th pick as well as three later second-round picks for 2021, two 2022 first-round picks, and three 2023 first-round picks.

The Thunder are also able to keep their star player in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and they will potentially have a backcourt of Cunningham, Kemba Walker, and Gilgeous-Alexander to start the season. However, what are the chances this trade is proposed and or accepted?

I would put the probability of 45% that the Thunder offers a package for the Pistons No. 1 pick. If this trade were to be offered, I would but the likely probability of being accepted at 40%. The Thunder would be the one offering the trade and it would all depend on how much the Pistons want to take Cunningham with the No. 1 overall pick.