Pistons: Why Cade Cunningham’s Rookie of the Year odds are enticing

Detroit Pistons: Cade Cunningham for Rookie of the Year will come down to team success

I think you could say all of the same things about Jalen Green that I’ve just said about Cade Cunningham, as he too will have a big role and could fill up the stat sheet.

Green also has a huge chip on his shoulder, so I expect him to try and win this award with everything he has.

A lot of the players in the top five will put up big numbers this season and there is always a chance that someone else will emerge (watch Trey Murphy III in New Orleans), so it could just come down to which team has the most success.

The Pistons, Rockets, Cavaliers and Magic were all terrible last season, so if one of them makes a big leap, their rookie will get credit.

I see the Detroit Pistons as the team most ready to make such a leap, as they already have some very good role players assembled around Cunningham in Jerami Grant, Isaiah Stewart and Saddiq Bey and recently added Kelly Olynyk to the mix.

Cunningham wants to make the playoffs, and though I think that’s a long shot, I could see the Pistons at least sniffing the play-in game.

If that happens and none of the other teams make much of a leap, then the award is likely to go to Cunningham, whose biggest strength is “elevating his teammates.”

This will be one of the most competitive Rookie of the Year races in a while, but I still like Cade Cunningham to win it.