NBA Insider Proposes Blockbuster Trade Pairing Cade Cunningham With $118.5M Former NBA Champion

Dallas Mavericks v Detroit Pistons - Source: Getty
NBA Insider suggested pairing Cade Cunningham with Mavs' injured star [Picture Credit: Getty]

Cade Cunningham's Detroit Pistons have a legitimate shot at the NBA title this season. The Pistons are top two in the league this season in a win-loss record, but there have been calls for them to make a few trades to give themselves an edge over their opponents in the playoffs.

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After Zach Lowe suggested the Pistons trade for Anthony Davis, ESPN's Tim Bontemps had another Dallas Mavericks star, Kyrie Irving, in mind to pair with Cade Cunningham. Bontemps believed the $118.5 million star [per Spotrac] could address the Pistons' weakness in the playoffs.

"I know he's hurt right now, but I think the guy on the Mavs that, if he becomes available, I think it would be a way better fit for the Pistons would be to get Kyrie Irving and put him next to Cade Cunningham," Bontemps said.
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"I'm not saying Kyrie's getting traded."

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"I think that's the weakness that I think they have to address, which is to get a guy to go with Cade. So it's not all on Cade to try to do it in the playoffs against big-time opponents," Bontemps added.

The Pistons have a 15-3 record this season. They are one of the very few teams with top 10 defensive and offensive ratings. However, they do have a young core that might struggle to score come playoff time, and a certified playoff star like Irving could solve a big part of their problem.

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Cade Cunningham is already eying a bigger target for himself this season

The Detroit Pistons are the best team in the Eastern Conference and the second-best team in the league behind the OKC Thunder. At this early in the season, would it be wild to consider the Pistons to win it all, maybe, but not for Cade Cunningham.

The Pistons' star player had the NBA title and the Finals MVP on his target. During a sit-down with Vincent Goodwill on the NBA on ESPN, he was asked if he had the MVP award on his radar this season.

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"I'm not shy to say that. I think [MVP is] very possible," Cunningham said.

However, Cade Cunningham has a bigger target for the Pistons and himself.

"This season is not about winning the MVP for me, though," he clarified. "This season is about winning a Finals, more than anything. A Finals MVP, I'd be way more happy about than an MVP."
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Cunningham is one of the frontrunners in the MVP race in the 2025-26 season. In 15 games, he has averaged 28.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 9.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game.

Pistons Fan? Check out the latest Detroit Pistons depth chart, schedule, and roster updates all in one place.

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Edited by Nandjee Ranjan
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