Cade Cunningham out for season: Pistons may start to fully tank for Victor Wembanyama, trade Bojan Bogdanovic

The Detroit Pistons were set at over/under 29.5 wins entering this season and took a solid Over lean despite winning just 23 games in the 2021-22 campaign. There was a lot of optimism because Detroit played much better in the final two months or so, then-rookie Cade Cunningham blossomed into one of the most promising young players in the league, and the team added the likes of Jaden Ivey and Jalen Durant in the first round of the 2022 draft and traded for Bojan Bogdanovic.

If the disappointing Pistons weren't essentially locks to finish Under that win total already, they are now with the news that Cunningham, the 2021 first overall pick, is done for the year with a left shin injury that will require surgery. The 21-year-old hasn't played since early November but took jumpers during pregame warmups last week. Alas, he will need the season-ending procedure after consulting with medical professionals and should be fine for 2023 training camp.

Cunningham averaged 14.7 points, 5.6 assists and 5.5 rebounds in 64 games as a rookie -- he finished third in the Rookie of the Year voting behind Scottie Barnes and Evan Mobley and was chosen as a first-team All-Rookie -- and looked even better in 12 games this year, averaging 19.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 6.0 assists. From Oct. 26 to Oct. 31, Cunningham had four consecutive games with at least 23 points, six rebounds and six assists. That four-game streak was the longest with such minimums in franchise history. Cunningham was hurt on Nov. 9 vs. Boston.

While no NBA team would ever admit to tanking, expect the Pistons to lean into the skid the rest of the way. There will be many clubs racing to the bottom to finish with one of the three worst records and the best chance (14%) to win the draft lottery and the chance to select generational talent Victor Wembanyama, a 7-foot-4 Frenchman considered the best NBA prospect since LeBron James. At 7-22, Detroit currently has the league's worst record.

The Pistons won the 2021 lottery after finishing with one of the three worst records in 2020-21 and took Cunningham. Detroit also had one of the three worst last season but slipped to slipped to No. 5 and took Ivey, the point guard out of Iowa. He has been quite good, averaging 15.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.0 assists and is +3000 to win NBA Rookie of the Year.

Don't be surprised to see Bogdanovic traded soon as he's a free agent after the season and doesn't really fit with the long-term future of this young team. The Los Angeles Lakers are known to covet Bogdanovic. He's averaging 21.0 points per game on 50.8% shooting overall, including 43.7% from deep, and would surely bring back at least one future first-round pick.

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