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Detroit Pistons: Pre-draft Q and A with The Athletic’s James Edwards III

By Thomas Chavez

Detroit Pistons general manager Troy Weaver: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Detroit Pistons general manager Troy Weaver: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
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Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
Cade Cunningham #2 of the Oklahoma State. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

The first question that I think every Detroit Pistons fan has is how certain are you that Cade Cunningham will be the number one pick for Detroit.

Edwards III: I will just say that I would be shocked if he’s not the pick. I personally am just not 100 percent until it’s done. I have just gotten this sense that he’s emerged as the guy. I think he’s probably been the guy. I think all their homework and their research backed up what they thought. I just end up thinking that he’s the pick

You have done interviews with people close to Cade Cunningham to talk about him. What has been the most surprising or intriguing thing you’ve learned about Cade during the interviews you have done with people talking about him.

Edwards III: I would say just how down to earth he is. I learned that as a kid he was a good player, but I learned he was a little chunky. He was the best player in where he was, and as he got to high school and then nationally people started to take notice. He seems very humble. He seems like, to be honest, a cool young man. Talking to people, everybody I talked to that’s close to him raved about him. Of course, those are his people so they’re going to talk highly of him. Even listening to him on podcasts, he sounds like a really smart, interesting, and insightful guy. I think he’d fit right in with the young group they have here in terms of personality for sure.

Other teams have obviously been making calls to try and trade up for the first pick. Which team do you think would have the best chance at making that move to trade up to number one?

Edwards III: I would say it would probably be the teams right behind in Houston and Cleveland. Just simply because I don’t think Detroit entertains any realistic trade that could be thrown at them that doesn’t involve pick two or three and the chance to get Mobley, Green, or Suggs. I think for them to even consider or think about a deal it would have to involve one of those picks so that they walk away with someone they really like. A young player they can build with and around going forward.