The Detroit Pistons drafted Cade Cunningham with the number one pick and it appears as though they finally have a star to build around.
Little did we know that when Detroit took Grant Hill with the 3rd pick in 1994 it would be the last star the team would draft a star for nearly three decades.
Here’s a quick recap of the Pistons’ 1st-round draft picks since Grant Hill:
- Randolph Childress
- Theo Ratliff
- Jerome Williams
- Scot Pollard
- Bonzi Wells
- Mateen Cleaves
- Rodney White
- Tayshaun Prince
- Carlos Delfino
- Darko Milicic (ARRRRRGH!)
- Jason Maxiell
- Arron Afflalo
- Rodney Stuckey
- D.J. White
- Austin Daye
- Greg Monroe
- Brandon Knight
- Andre Drummond
- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
- Stanley Johnson
- Henry Ellenson
- Luke Kennard
- Sekou Doumbouya
- Killian Hayes
If you are counting, that is 24 picks in 27 years and not a star to be found. Sure, there are a few good role players sprinkled in there like Tayshaun Prince (who was a steal), Andre Drummond (sort of) and the KCP/Kennard blahs, but mostly what you see are a bunch of mediocre players or flat-out busts.
Until now.
Cade Cunningham gives the Detroit Pistons a star to build around
Cade Cunningham is the first Pistons draft pick since Grant Hill that has a legitimate chance to be an NBA superstar.
He put his skill on full display in the last game vs. the Nuggets, scoring 34 points with eight rebounds, eight assists, four blocks and two steals, the only rookie to put up such a stat line since Michael Jordan.
Cunningham plays well beyond his years, and though he clearly still has a lot of work to do, his game doesn’t have any major flaws and he is the type of guy who will make everyone around him better.
ESPN scout Mike Schmitz called Cunningham “the most complete prospect” he had ever evaluated and he Cade has backed that assessment, especially since declaring himself the best rookie in his class.
Cade Cunningham showed exactly why I referred to him as the most “complete” prospect I ever evaluated with his play vs Denver. As polished of a rookie as I can remember. Can make pull up 3s, get downhill, play PnR, catch + shoot, post up, pass, defend, rebound. Almost no holes. pic.twitter.com/HRSRACVJXy
— Mike Schmitz (@Mike_Schmitz) January 26, 2022
Those of us who have been with the team since the Grant Hill days (yes, I’m old) have been waiting patiently for the team to acquire another star via the draft and after 27 long years it seems like we finally have.
Drafting a star is the best path towards sustained success, something the Detroit Pistons have not had since the Goin’ to Work era.
But this is the Cade Cunningham era now and after a long list of misses, the Pistons finally got their guy.