With the Detroit Pistons landing the first overall pick after the 2021 NBA Draft Lottery, the team is now set up to select the consensus top prospect, Cade Cunningham, come draft night on July 29th.
Despite saying that trading the first overall pick is an option for Detroit, Pistons GM Troy Weaver may have tipped his hand in a recent interview with Sirius XM’s Rick Kamla and Pistons legend Rick Mahorn. The GM entering his second year had a lot of praise for Cunningham’s game.
"“The number one thing you like about the guy is that he is a big time competitor, and that is what we’re looking for here in Detroit.” -Troy Weaver Via Sirus XM NBA Radio"
Detroit Pistons: Cade Cunningham fits the Pistons mold and culture
Why would Cunningham not be the type of player Weaver would want to bring to Detroit? The 19-year-old point guard out of Oklahoma State is a superb scorer from all three levels of the floor, his solid three-point shooting would go a long way towards helping a Detroit team that ranked 22nd in baskets from beyond the arc, and his 6-8, 220-pound frame fits the prototypical build Weaver has sought out in his acquisitions thus far in his tenure.
It would be a surprise if Cunningham was not in a Pistons jersey come the first game of the 2021-22 NBA season.
Cunningham would make a great addition to this Pistons roster. He would make a great addition to any roster for that matter. the 19-year-old will enter the league as one of Detroit’s top scoring options and a top playmaker as well. He will hit his bumps along the way as all rookies do, but the point guard will immediately be the favorite to win the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award, at least at the beginning of the season.
The addition of Cunningham would leave a big question mark on Detroit’s backcourt rotation entering next season.