Detroit Pistons: Cade Cunningham can be Detroit’s floor general and possibly their go-to scorer
On the offensive end of the floor, Cunningham immediately offers Detroit another scorer to pair with power forward Jerami Grant.
With 22.3 points per contest, Grant, the Pistons’ leading scorer, was the only reliable shot creator for the team last season. The second-highest points per game total by a Piston who was with Detroit all of last season is Josh Jackson with 13.4 points per game.
Heading into the 2021 NBA offseason, Detroit needed to find another scorer to pair with Grant. Not only can Cunningham be that other scorer, but he could also usurp Grant for the team’s number one scoring option this season.
Cunningham will open up better looks for Grant next season. The 19-year-old has shown the ability to create his own shot at the collegiate level, and if he can translate that ability to the NBA, he will pull attention that was otherwise directed towards Grant for most of Detroit’s offensive possessions.
With two scoring threats on the court, more opportunities for both Grant and Cunningham to get good looks at the basket will present themselves. The pairing of Cunningham and Grant as a one-two punch on the offensive end will be beneficial to the Pistons who ranked 27th in the NBA in points per game.
Cunningham offers Detroit immediate relief for their three-point shooting woes of the previous season. Detroit ranked 22nd in the NBA in both three-pointers made and three-point shooting percentage. Cunningham, a 40 percent three-point shooter in his lone year at Oklahoma State, can provide steady shooting for Detroit from beyond the arc.
The 19-year-old is proficient in scoring from all three levels whether the ball is in his hand or as an off-ball shooter. In the pick-and-roll, Cunningham has shown the ability to easily diagnose the defense and make the correct play. Cunningham even has the makings of a decent post-game.
While Cunningham has shown the ability to be a very good playmaker, the point guard is not without his flaws as a ball-handler. Cunningham’s assist to turnover ratio is a glaring concern on his otherwise immaculate scouting report. The 6-8 guard averaged 3.5 assists per game but turned the ball over four times per game as well. Cleaning up his ball security will be a top priority for the young prospect as he enters the NBA.
Cunningham will have an instant positive impact on the offensive end of the court for the Pistons next season. The 6-8 point guard can attack the rim, shoot very well from beyond the arc, and has the makings of a solid playmaker at the NBA level. While the young prospect does have areas to improve in his offensive game, he will be one of the Pistons’ top offensive players from day one of the 2021-22 regular season.