Detroit Pistons: Cade Cunningham and Jerami Grant are a perfect duo

After landing the first overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft Lottery, Pistons fans across the globe eagerly await their big night. On July 29th, GM Troy Weaver will be able to dictate the rest of the league’s draft boards as he selects first overall for the Detroit Pistons.

While rumors of the team’s interest in both Jalen Green of the G-League Ignite and USC center Evan Mobley have circulated in recent weeks, the presumptive pick for Detroit at number one remains Oklahoma State point guard Cade Cunningham.

The 19-year-old point guard is listed as the first pick for Detroit in almost every mock draft on the internet. Many believe the only way Cunningham is not in a Pistons jersey come the start of the 2021-22 regular season is if the team trades the first pick away for a massive haul in return.

Weaver has tipped his hand a little bit in regards to the team’s interest in Cunningham. The GM heading into his second year called the young point guard “a bigtime competitor” and that he is the type of player they are looking for in Detroit.

Detroit Pistons: Cade Cunningham will make a huge impact on Detroit’s offense

Cunningham would immediately improve the Pistons’ offense next season. The Oklahoma State product averaged 20.1 points and 3.5 rebounds in 27 games with the Cowboys, starting all but one. The point guard was efficient from three-point range as he sunk 40 percent of his shots from beyond the arc in college as well. His production will help improve a Pistons’ offense that ranked 26th in the league in offensive rating and 22nd in both three-point makes and percentage.

While point guard is his primary position, Cunningham’s 6-8 and 220-pound frame will allow him the flexibility of playing at multiple positions on the court. No matter what position he is playing, Cunningham will likely be the lead ball-handler for Detroit in transition and half-court sets.

One player who will benefit the most from the addition of Cunningham to the Pistons’ rotation is power forward Jerami Grant. The 27-year-old signed a three-year $60 million deal with Detroit last offseason, and Grant delivered with a career-high in points per game in the 2020-21 season. Grant posted 22.3 points per game en route to coming just short of the NBA’s Most Improved Player award.

Paired with Cunningham, Grant will have the opportunity to improve even more in his second year with the Pistons. Cunningham will likewise benefit from the presence of Grant on the court with him. As the pair develop on-court chemistry together, the Pistons offense will start to find its footing in the league. Grant and Cunningham will have the opportunity to form one of the NBA’s better scoring duos.