RealGM Basketball Wiretap

03 April 2025

• Cade Cunningham Expected To Be Named To All-NBA Team, Qualify For Five-Year, $269M Deal

  Cade Cunningham finished seventh ESPN's final MVP straw poll for the 24-25 season and is now considered a virtual lock to make an All-NBA team. Cunningham is averaging 25.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 9.2 assists and has the Detroit Pistons firmly in the playoffs with one of the NBA's most impressive rapid turnarounds considering their 14-68 record in 23-24.

  Cunningham and the Pistons agreed to a five-year max contract during the 2024 offseason that also contained the Rose Rule provision, which will increase the value from $224 million to $269 million if he makes an All-NBA team this season. Cunningham's contract will start at 30 percent of the salary cap as opposed to 25 percent.

  "I'm genuinely excited to see what he, and they, can do," a West executive said. "They just have to go through it and see what your talent looks like on that stage....

  "Let's see how he does against game planning for him over a seven-game series. There's a lot of things you don't know until you go through it."

• Isaiah Stewart Suspended Two Games; DiVincenzo, Holland, Reid, Sasser Get One-Game Bans

  The NBA has issued the following suspensions following Sunday's altercation between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Detroit Pistons.

  The incident began when Ron Holland II committed a defensive foul on Naz Reid with 8:36 remaining in the second quarter of the Timberwolves' 123-104 victory over the Pistons on March 30 at Target Center. Following that foul, Reid pointed at and confronted Holland. Holland then pushed Donte DiVincenzo and in response, DiVincenzo escalated the incident by shoving Holland II in the chest. The two players along with Reid became entangled and fell into the spectator stands. Isaiah Stewart and Marcus Sasser then entered the altercation near the spectator stands and shoved DiVincenzo and Reid, which resulted in a continued escalation of the situation. For their roles, all five players were assessed technical fouls and ejected from the game.

  The length of Stewart's suspension is based in part on his repeated history of unsportsmanlike acts, announced the NBA.

  • Isaiah Stewart: 2 game suspension
  • Donte DiVincenzo: 1 game suspension
  • Ron Holland: 1 game suspension
  • Naz Reid: 1 game suspension
  • Marcus Sasser: 1 game suspension

• Seven Ejected After Pistons-Timberwolves Brawl

  During the Detroit Pistons-Minnesota Timberwolves game on Sunday, a fight broke out that spilled into the stands. The end result were seven ejections, including both players and coaches.

  With 8:36 remaining in the second quarter, Pistons rookie wing Ron Holland II was called for a foul on Timberwolves center Naz Reid. Reid didn't like the way he was fouled by Holland and appeared to say something to the rookie. Wolves guard Donte DiVincenzo initially tried to get in between the two players, but ended up shoving Holland. That resulted in Pistons big man Isaiah Stewart II and Pistons guard Marcus Sasser getting involved.

  After the melee spilled into the seats along the baseline, Detroit head coach J.B. Bickerstaff and Minnesota assistant coach Pablo Prigioni were also ejected for their actions during the altercation. Holland, Reid, DiVincenzo, Stewart, and Sasser, were all ejected from the game on the player side.

• Cade Cunningham Sits Third Straight Game With Calf Contusion

  Cade Cunningham missed the Detroit Pistons' 133-122 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night with a calf contusion.

  Cunningham, who hurt his calf last week against the Mavs, has now missed three games in a row with the injury.

  Cunningham is listed as day-to-day.

• Trajan Langdon Wanted To Add 'Grit' Back To Pistons Roster

  When Trajan Langdon took over the Detroit Pistons front office this summer, he said it was clear that the team needed to rebuild their culture.

  "After listening to Arn (Tellem), Billy King, and then most importantly to Tom (Gores), I thought what they were lacking is what I could provide in terms of just setting a foundation, building a culture," Langdon said. "I felt that's what they felt was important. And that's what I can provide originally or from the start. And then we started talking more and had a lot of conversations with Tom and just felt that it would be a good fit."

  Langdon then set about remaking the roster. This offseason, he acquired Tim Hardaway Jr. via trade, then signed Malik Beasley and Tobias Harris. The Pistons also drafted Ron Holland II. Ahead of the trade deadline, Langdon traded for Dennis Schroder and Lindy Waters III. All of those moves were based on bringing back some character and hard-working attitudes to Detroit.

  "We talk a lot about the character of this team that we wanted to put together," Langdon said. "We have a lot of high character human beings and we wanted to get that grit back. And obviously, the positivity, the passion, the desire to come out and compete and win. It's a historic franchise that at times has been dominant in this league. And so, to get it back and give the fans what they've seen, and to give these players what they want, would be super-meaningful to this franchise right now and also going forward."

• JB Bickerstaff 'Disgusted' By Officiating In Pistons Loss To Thunder

  Detroit Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff let the officials have it after his Detroit Pistons lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday. Bickerstaff was upset with several calls throughout the game, including some technical fouls that were called on his players.

  "I'm disgusted by the way that game was officiated," Bickerstaff said. "The level of disrespect was above and beyond. They have a guy fall down and trip on his own teammate's foot, they review us for a hostile act. They throw an elbow to our chest and neck area, I ask to at least take a look at it (on video).... No one would take a look at it.

  "The disrespect has gone far enough, and I'm not going to allow our guys to be treated the way they were tonight."

  Postgame, crew chief Brian Forte said Pistons guard Cade Cunningham was ejected for directing continuous profanity towards the officiating crew. Dennis Schroder also received technical foul for continued complaining.

• Jaden Ivey Hopes To Play Again This Season

  On Thursday, Jaden Ivey addressed reports for the first time since breaking his left fibula on January 1st. Ivey was asked if he could potentially return this season as the Detroit Pistons appear to be a probable playoff team.

  "Hopefully," said Ivey.

  Ivey was averaging 17.6 points on 46 percent from the field and 40.9 percent from 3, 4.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game before suffering his injury.

  "I haven't been able to be in this situation yet, to play meaningful basketball," Ivey said. "Lord willing, when I get back, I'll be able to be in this atmosphere and this environment. Especially at Little Caesars Arena, it's special to be there. Especially this time that we're in with the (Detroit) Lions, the (Detroit) Tigers. Everybody in the city knows it's a winning season for the city."

  Ivey and the Pistons have no definitive return date yet, but he's working daily on his rehabilitation.

• Trajan Langdon Pivoted To Adding Help At Deadline Due To Pistons Play

  When Trajan Langdon took over the Detroit Pistons front office ahead of last offseason, he didn't think his team would be in a position to be a buyer at the trade deadline.

  "It didn't even enter my thought process, to be honest with you, back last summer," Langdon said. "It wasn't something I even thought about at all."

  While the Pistons did add some draft capital at the deadline, they also picked up Dennis Schroder and Lindy Waters III as helpful players to aid in their playoff push. Though being in a playoff race was unexpected, Langdon wanted to give his team the extra resources to push forward.

  "These guys have put themselves in position where they believe they can be a playoff team, which is exciting. We know that's important to them," Langdon said. "To add to that was important to us, as well. We were aware of that and kept that in mind leading to the deadline."

• Pistons Waive Wendell Moore Jr.

  The Detroit Pistons are waiving Wendell Moore Jr., sources told Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

  The 26th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Moore averaged 3.2 points and 2.2 rebounds in 20 games this season.

• Pistons Acquire Dennis Schroder

  The Detroit Pistons have agreed to acquire Dennis Schroder as part of the broader Jimmy Butler trade. The Golden State Warriors agreed to send out Schroder as part of the deal and he was initially set to join the Utah Jazz. The Jazz will receive K.J. Martin, Josh Richardson and a 2028 second rounder.

  The Warriors acquired Schroder from the Brooklyn Nets in December, but he never became a productive fit with their team. Detroit entered trade deadline week with cap space to help facilitate trades.

  Schroder will be a free agent in the 2025 offseason.