DETROIT -- Missing playing time is far from ideal, but sometimes it’s the best course of action. Detroit Pistons rookie guard Cade Cunningham didn’t suit up during the preseason because of an ankle injury. The Pistons wanted to take the cautious route to ensure he recovers fully.
Cunningham has not participated fully in practice since the first week of training camp but he went through part of practice on Monday. The medical and training staff have helped him maintain some conditioning in his absence.
While nothing can replace live game reps, head coach Dwane Casey understands that this course of action could help Cunningham have a long, successful career.
“For me, it’s about his health and his longevity,” Casey said after practice. “We don’t want to be stupid and come out and force him out there and now you’re out another month or whatever it is.”
Ahead of Monday’s practice, Casey has said that he wanted the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft to get two to three practices under his belt before he played in a game. He added that the team would evaluate Cunningham on a day-to-day basis and would not put a set date or time frame on when Cunningham would return.
So there is a possibility that Cunningham is inactive when the Pistons open the regular season against the Chicago Bulls Wednesday at Little Caesars Arena (7 p.m., Bally Sports Detroit).
“When he’s ready, he’ll be ready to go and there’s nothing or anybody that can change that except his body,” Casey said. “The medical people are conservative and they’re being very cautious and rightfully so.”
Should Cunningham miss the season-opener, he wouldn’t be the first top overall pick in recent years to miss playing time early in his first season. Zion Williamson, selected first overall in 2019, tore his meniscus during the preseason and did not make his regular-season debut until almost three months into the year for the New Orleans Pelicans. Former Pistons forward Blake Griffin missed his entire rookie season with the Los Angeles Clippers due to a stress fracture in his knee.
Both Williamson and Griffin have gotten NBA All-Star nods and are still making waves in the league, especially with the care that many NBA teams provide their players.
Teams have invested in some of the top medical professionals and equipment to make sure players get the right care. Players also can get second opinions from other experts should they need it.
“Today’s medical people are off the charts as far as their medicine, their thought process, the equipment that they have,” Casey said. “We have every bit of equipment known to (man) in the NBA, some of the top medical spots in the NBA. So we have everything you need. So, again, it’s a new NBA, which is great. I think it’s good.”
The decision on whether or not Cunningham plays won’t be known officially until game day. Should he miss it though, it could help him have a longer-lasting career.
Other injury news
While Cunningham’s injury is a hot topic, the Pistons have been nursing some other bumps. Veteran center Kelly Olynyk was not a full participant in practice on Monday. He missed some of it as a precaution.
Saddiq Bey was a full participant on Monday after a limited practice the day before. The team will re-evaluate him Tuesday to see how his ankle feels after a full practice.
Killian Hayes also practiced after returning to full practice on Sunday.
NBA announces official rosters
The NBA announced the official rosters of each of the 30 teams on Monday night ahead of the start of the regular season on Tuesday. Fans already had an idea of what Detroit’s roster looks like following the preseason.
Now fans have official word on the 17 players that will suit up for the Pistons at the start of the season:
- Saddiq Bey
- Cade Cunningham
- Hamidou Diallo
- Luka Garza
- Jerami Grant
- Killian Hayes
- Frank Jackson
- Josh Jackson
- Cory Joseph
- Saben Lee
- Isaiah Livers
- Trey Lyles
- Rodney McGruder
- Kelly Olynyk
- Isaiah Stewart
Two-way Contracts
- Jamorko Pickett
- Chris Smith
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