Motor City Cruise enjoying Cade Cunningham’s presence at practice
Detroit Pistons head coach Dwane Casey last week said Cade Cunningham would continue his rehab and practice this week with the Motor City Cruise, their affiliate in the NBA G League.
The Pistons opted to move their G League affiliate to Detroit after it was previously in Grand Rapids. The move was designed to allow shorter travel time back and forth to enable players the opportunity to rehab or practice in close proximity to the Pistons.
Motor City is now located less than a mile away from the Pistons’ facility.
The decision to relocate their G League team already appears to be paying off as Cunningham can now practice with the Cruise. He was ruled out of playing on the Pistons’ current three-game road trip so he could continue to practice and rehab in Detroit.
Cruise head coach DJ Bakker on Tuesday said the team is happy to have him.
Our main mission with the Motor City Cruise is to serve the Pistons. So as he is ramping up his process to getting back to playing with the Pistons, the fact we’re in the same building and he can be a part of our practices, and we can help him get ready for what’s coming, that is a huge part of what we’re doing. To have him around is great. To have his leadership around is great.
The presence of Cunningham, as Bakker said, will help raise the level of competition as the Cruise begin training camp. He can participate in extensive practices, something he likely wouldn’t experience with the Pistons now that practice time is limited during the season.
Detroit will conclude its road trip on Thursday versus the Philadelphia 76ers after dropping the first two games. The earliest Cunningham could play is Oct. 30 when the Pistons return home and host the Orlando Magic, though, it is not known if he will be cleared by then.
The team has maintained it will not rush Cunningham back into action too quickly. The final call on clearing him to play will come from the medical staff, which appears to be in the near future.
This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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