Pistons: Ranking Hayes and Cunningham vs. other young NBA backcourts
The Detroit Pistons are likely to draft Cade Cunningham with the overall number one pick, which will give them one of the youngest backcourt duos in the NBA.
He and Killian Hayes will both be 19 and this is the duo the Detroit Pistons will build around along with Saddiq Bey, Isaiah Stewart and Jerami Grant.
The NBA has a LOT of good young guard duos, with at least 9 teams who are projected to have two starting guards who are both under 25-years-old.
When trying to rank a potential Hayes and Cunningham backcourt against the other “young” guard duos, I only looked at teams that had two guys under 25 who played a lot of the time together.
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Teams like the Dallas Mavericks and Charlotte Hornets obviously have one great young guard each but don’t have a backcourt mate who fits the criteria, so they were left off the list. I also left off Lonzo Ball and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, as they barely played together.
I also factored in potential as well as where they are now, as there are a few guard duos who might be better presently but don’t have as high a ceiling, especially when you are looking at Cunningham’s potential with the Detroit Pistons if that’s where he ends up (he will).
The future of the NBA is in good hands, as this generation of guards is already very good and about to get even better once Killian Hayes and Cade Cunningham are running the show for the Detroit Pistons.
Here is where they stand against the other young backcourts.
No. 9 young backcourt in the NBA-Cole Anthony and Markelle Fultz, Orlando Magic
The Magic actually have a trio of young guards if you also count RJ Hampton, but Fultz will be coming off another injury, so it’s hard to rank them higher even though Cole Anthony had a very good rookie season.
The Magic will also have the 5th and 8th picks in the upcoming NBA Draft, so will be adding even more young talent. I have to give the Magic credit, as they were able to reset after trading Vucevic and Gordon and have to be more excited about their roster than they were at this time last year.
No. 8 young backcourt in the NBA- Dejounte Murray and Lonnie Walker
The Spurs have quietly stockpiled a lot of young talent though these two are not the flashiest names on the list. Murray is a well-rounded point guard who scored over 15 points per game while also getting seven rebounds and five assists. Walker is only 22 and already scores in double digits on decent 3-point shooting numbers.
The Spurs have a ton of money potentially coming off the books and could make a big move to add to their young core.