Looking at the top 5 players in the league right now, none of them were picked #1, it’s not the end of the world.
The only way that’s true is we give him the max extension without him turning it around. If he finishes this season the way he started it, there’s no way you extend him prematurely. Either trade him for something or let him walk, but putting ourselves in a position where we might be stuck with him, or forced to move picks with him is what will screw us even further.
I’m curious to see if Cade gets a max deal at the end of the year. I think the Pistons will float the max or something close to it, but I’m curious if Cade decides against signing, signs the one-year tender a la Greg Monroe, and becomes a UFA for 2025.
I don’t know if Cade is the answer, I’m not an analyst, but there’s a problem and something has to change, I think that much is clear.