The Detroit Pistons are likely to select Cade Cunningham with the first pick of the NBA Draft, a fact that will delight future teammate Saddiq Bey.
Cunningham and Bey were spotted taking in a Tigers’ game last week, so are already starting to build some rapport that will hopefully carry over to the season.
Cunningham said he was “very excited” to come to Detroit, a sentiment that is echoing through a fanbase that has waited a long time to have a potential superstar.
Cade is soaking in the Detroit culture and saying all the right things, so he will not only have an effect on his teammates but also the entire city, especially if he can bring the Detroit Pistons back to their former glory.
Detroit Pistons: Cade Cunningham will push Saddiq Bey to the next level
We’ve looked at how Cade might help Sekou Doumbouya, as well as Isaiah Stewart, so today’s installment will focus specifically on how he can help Saddiq Bey.
Bey made the All-Rookie team after a surprising first season which saw him break several rookie records for 3-point shooting and emerge as one of the Pistons’ best defenders.
The Detroit Pistons only had to give up Luke Kennard to get Bey, a trade that is looking sweeter and sweeter each day, and he, along with Isaiah Stewart, Killian Hayes and Jerami Grant, will form the foundation that Cade Cunningham is joining.
Today we are going to take a look at how Cunningham’s superstar potential on both ends can help elevate Bey’s game and could propel him from the All-Rookie team to a future All-Star.
Detroit Pistons: How Cade Cunningham will help Saddiq Bey’s defense
Saddiq Bey came into the NBA with the reputation as a hard-nosed defender with size who could guard multiple spots and he didn’t disappoint.
Even though he was a rookie, Bey was often given the tough defensive assignments on the wing, something that is not likely to change because of the addition of Cade Cunningham, but there will be ways Cade will help.
The Pistons are going to have a long, athletic and versatile team on defense that will be able to switch on just about everyone. The addition of Cunningham will add another tall and willing defender to the perimeter, which should make things a bit easier on Bey, who won’t be trying to cover point guards who had a hard time keeping teams out of the lane last season.
Cade’s size on the perimeter will take some of the pressure off Bey to always guard the best wing, as Cunningham can also take on some of those tough defensive assignments and the Pistons shouldn’t lose much when they switch on the pick-and-roll.
With Cunningham holding down more of the perimeter, Bey can focus on being an elite wing stopper, the guy who guards the best player, and since he’ll have better defenders around him, that job should be easier.
There are going to be fewer mismatches, which should allow Bey to lock down his guy without having to worry about covering for anyone else. The Detroit Pistons have a chance to have one of the best perimeter defenses in the NBA with Hayes and Cunningham allowing Bey to focus completely on his own assignment.
Detroit Pistons: How Cade Cunningham will help Saddiq Bey’s offense
Saddiq Bey broke several Pistons’ and NBA rookie records for 3-point shooting last season and that was without the benefit of a real point guard for most of it.
Killian Hayes came on at the end of the season and flashed some elite passing, but prior to that, the entirety of the Pistons’ offense consisted of Jerami Grant or Delon Wright (before he was traded) trying to break down the defense.
The Pistons’ lack of a guy who could consistently collapse a defense led to a lack of spacing, so a lot of Bey’s shots were contested, which makes his record-breaking season even more impressive.
Cunningham’s biggest strength is elevating his teammates by breaking down a defense and creating space and open looks for shooters.
His teammates at Oklahoma State were often unable to take advantage of this, but Saddiq Bey will, as he is already a very good 3-point shooter and will get even better when Cunningham is setting him up with wide open looks.
Cunningham’s gravity is going to benefit the entire offense, which finally has a guy who demands a double team and will take the focus off everyone else, including Bey.
If Cunningham and Bey can develop a two man pick-and-roll game, it is going to be tough to stop, as defenses will have to decide whether to say home with Bey or try to stop Cunningham getting into the lane, which is going to lead to open shots.
When Bey is on the weak side he can find empty space and wait for the swing passes that Cunningham has filled highlight reels making.
Cunningham’s elite passing and ability to break down a defense are going to create a lot of open looks for Bey, who must be licking his chops thinking about all those open 3-pointers.
Cunningham is going to elevate the Detroit Pistons on both ends and will help take Saddiq Bey’s game to the next level.