The NBA has started revealing the winners of postseason awards and as expected, the Detroit Pistons will not be featured in any of them. 
The Pistons did get named in a recent anonymous player’s poll, but they weren’t in the most flattering of categories.
Last night, it was announced that Tyrese Maxey won the Most Improved Player award, a revelation that surprised no one.
There are some questions whether a player like Maxey should win this award, as he was already very good, but he did make a leap to All-Star this season and carried the 76ers while Joel Embiid was out.
If the Pistons had been better, Cade Cunningham might have been in the conversation for the award, as he too made a mini leap this season. If the Pistons want to show they are headed in the right direction, it’s an award he needs to at least be a finalist for next season.
Detroit Pistons: Cade Cunningham and the Most Improved Player award
I’d love it if a Piston or two were MVP candidates, All-NBA, All-Stars or headed to the All-Defensive team next season, but let’s be honest with ourselves, the chances of that happening are about as likely as me being featured in one of those categories.
But Cade Cunningham could definitely take home Most Improved Player, which would be a welcome sign for a franchise that needs some glimmer of hope.
-It would show that Cunningham has officially arrived as a star, as he won’t win the award without being on or near the All-Star team and improving his overall stats significantly enough for voters to notice.
It would show that the Pistons have gained something from all of this losing and at least have one player they can build around.
-It would also mean that Cade Cunningham played at least 65 games next season, which he would need to be eligible for the award in the first place. He has failed to meet this mark in his first three seasons in the league and needs to play more games for Detroit to improve.
-Cade winning the Most Improved Player award would also mean that the team has improved enough for him to be considered, as players on the worst team in the NBA aren’t generally up for awards unless they are rookies.
So, if at the end of next season Cade Cunningham is holding the MIP trophy, we’ll know that things not only went right for him but for the team as well, which would be a welcome change from the last four seasons.
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