The Detroit Pistons are hoping to land the number one pick and if they do, Cade Cunningham is the likely choice.
Coming into the season, there was a consensus top-five but none of them had really separated themselves from the pack.
Cunningham has done that, carrying a mediocre Oklahoma State team to a surprising 19-7 record in the loaded Big 12 conference.
Cunningham has been impressive in just about every facet of the game, averaging 19.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.4 steals and a block per game for Oklahoma State.
He has the size to defend all five positions, he can score from every level and he is tenacious on the glass, qualities that are almost sure to make him the consensus number one pick heading into this year’s draft.
If the Detroit Pistons were to finally luck out and get the number one pick, they would almost certainly use it on Cunningham.
But what if they don’t?
Detroit Pistons: If Cunningham is not available, who’s next?
Detroit will still have plenty of options if they do not get the number one pick. There are at least five guys who have separated themselves from the rest of the lottery, so as long as the Pistons stay in the top-five, they should get some impact talent.
Even if the worst happens and they drop several spots, there are still guys outside of the top five who could help.
But Detroit isn’t looking for “help” or role players in this draft, they want transformative talent that will change the course of the franchise.
Knowing that, would they attempt to trade up to get Cade Cunningham if they don’t get the first pick? There are some pros and cons to doing so, let’s take a look.
Detroit Pistons: Should the Pistons trade up for Cade Cunningham?
If the Detroit Pistons decide that Cade Cunningham is the franchise-altering talent that they want, they might be able to move up to get him but there is a cost.
Pro: The pro of trading up to get Cunningham is obvious: the Detroit would finally get the best player from a draft. The hallmark of the Pistons’ mediocrity over the last decade is that they were never able to get a superstar in the draft. This is largely because they almost always picked in the 7-10 range, where you are far less likely to find one.
It’s also because they passed on guys like Donovan Mitchell among others, almost always choosing incorrectly.
For once it would be nice for the Detroit Pistons to land a superstar, not just a guy who can be the 4th best player on a team.
Con: Unlike last draft, where there wasn’t a consensus superstar or number one pick, this draft will be expensive if you want to move up.
I was one of the people advocating for the Pistons to move up to get LaMelo Ball for this very reason. Last year’s draft would have been cheaper to move up because there were no sure things.
This year is going to be different, especially if you want to get the number one pick. With a consensus top-five that should be loaded with stars and a number one frontrunner, it will cost the Pistons a pretty penny to move up.
How much will it cost? Well, that depends on who gets the pick, but you can count on it costing the Pistons at least their 2021 pick plus a few more. Teams are not going to give away the chance to have the next superstar, so the Pistons will have to empty the clip to move up.
Would it be worth sacrificing several picks to get Cunningham? Possibly.
Detroit Pistons: Is Cade Cunningham a fit?
If the Pistons do get the chance to move up, they will have to consider how this move will work with what they currently have and what they hope to be in the future.
Pro: Adding Cunningham to this roster would give the Pistons one of, if not the best young core in the Eastern Conference.
The Pistons are not at a stage where they are worried about fine-tuning their roster, as they still need to amass as much talent as possible and not worry about fit at this point.
Having too much talent is never a problem and every GM in the NBA would like to add Cunningham to their roster, even if they already have other guards who play the same position.
Con: The only con as far as fit goes is that the Pistons just drafted Killian Hayes and have no idea what he can be since he has only played seven games
Is Hayes the point guard of the future? Can he play off the ball? Can Cunningham?
I see no big conflict here, as I said, the Pistons need to worry about talent more than fit. Also, Cunningham is already a very good 3-point shooter, so there is no reason he and Hayes can’t play together.
Can you ever have too many playmakers? Can a team have too many talented guards? The answer to both is no, so even though there is some question of fit, I don’t see a problem.
I hope that the Pistons get the number one pick so that this doesn’t become an issue, but if they don’t, I am for trying to trade up to get it, as Cunningham could be the transformative talent the Pistons have been after since they traded Chauncey Billups.
If Detroit has to sacrifice some future draft capital to do it, so be it, as they might not get this chance again for a long time.