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Detroit Pistons: Cade Cunningham’s immediate impact for the Pistons next season

By Thomas Chavez

Cade Cunningham #2 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys reacts against the Oregon State Beavers during the second half in the second round game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Hinkle Fieldhouse on March 21, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Cade Cunningham #2 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys reacts against the Oregon State Beavers during the second half in the second round game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Hinkle Fieldhouse on March 21, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MARCH 21: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MARCH 21: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Pistons fans around the globe rejoiced last night as the Detroit Pistons landed the first overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft Lottery. For the first time in the franchise’s history, Detroit moved up in the lottery with their own pick.

The Pistons are now on the clock. Cade Cunningham, the consensus top prospect in this year’s draft class, is almost guaranteed to be the selection by Pistons’ GM Troy Weaver. Barring some dramatic twist of fate, Cunningham will be in a Pistons uniform come next season.

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It has already been reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that the 19-year-old point guard out of Oklahoma State will only visit with Detroit prior to the NBA Draft on July 29th.

The Detroit Pistons finally get a chance at a superstar in Cade Cunningham

Standing at 6-8, the 19-year-old is the perfect prototype of a player that Weaver covets for his team. Weaver has built this roster with plenty of long, tall, and athletic players including, Jerami Grant and Josh Jackson.

Questions will surface about what Detroit’s rotation will end up looking like next season. Killian Hayes could slide to the two-guard spot, or the 6-5 guard could find himself as the sixth man off the bench for Detroit. A decision like that could be greatly influenced by Hamidou Diallo’s pending free agency this offseason.

Whatever Detroit’s rotation shakes out to be, the Pistons have just found themselves with possibly the brightest future of any rebuilding team in the league. Detroit’s rookies continuing to develop as they enter year two and the inclusion of the top prospect in the 2021 NBA Draft will make the Pistons a very competitive young team in Weaver’s second year at the helm of this rebuild.

The Detroit Pistons have a very bright future ahead of them. As the team looks forward to potentially becoming contenders in the next few seasons, they will have their eyes set on making the play-in tournament this upcoming season and quite possibly an appearance in the NBA Playoffs.

The Pistons’ potential success next season will come in great part from the immediate impact that Cunningham will have on both ends of the floor in his rookie season.

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