Pistons: Where do Cade Cunningham and Jalen Green rank in ESPN’s top-100?

ESPN released the first half of its top-100 list and it featured two Detroit Pistons, including Cade Cunningham.

I have to say, the rankings were a little surprising considering how the same group of “experts” picked Jalen Green to win Rookie of the Year over Cade Cunningham.

I think ESPN got that one wrong, but they have apparently tried to right the ship with their new rankings, which had Cunningham way ahead of Green.

Jerami Grant came in at No.53, which seems about right after he had a breakout season. The Pistons are hoping to sign Grant to a long-term deal after vaulting himself into the elite of the NBA.

But Pistons’ fans will be far more interested in where Cade Cunningham was ranked, especially in relation to Jalen Green, whose constant talking has made him enemy #1 in Detroit.

Did Green’s brash confidence and Summer League help him in the rankings? It doesn’t appear so.

Detroit Pistons: Cade Cunningham is ranked much higher than Jalen Green

Jalen Green barely made the top-100 list, coming in at no. 96 even though ESPN says he has a good chance of leading all rookies in scoring and winning Rookie of the Year.

I actually thought this was a bit too low, especially when you see the guys who are just ahead of him on the list. Is there anyone who would take Kevin Huerter over Jalen Green? How about Mitchell Robinson? Seth Curry?

I am no fan of Green but he’s going to be better than all of those guys by a wide margin and soon.

Cade Cunningham was ranked a full 20 spots higher, coming in at No. 76, which also seemed a bit low considering some of the guys directly ahead of him. Joe Harris? Nope. Aaron Gordon? Hmmm, I wouldn’t consider taking him over Cade. How about Spencer Dinwiddie, who just came off a bad injury?

I know it is hard to put guys who have yet to play a real game over players who have, but let’s be real here, Cade Cunningham is already better than Joe Harris at just about everything that doesn’t involve standing in the corner and shooting wide-open 3-point shots.

It was nice to see Cunningham get his due over Green though, and I am certain this will just light a bigger fire under Green, who thinks he should have been the number one pick and will be eager to prove everyone wrong.

But Cunningham is up to the task too and both will look to climb this list as the season goes on.