When the Detroit Pistons chose Cade Cunningham with the number one pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, they were making him the centerpiece of their rebuild.
The Pistons have the second-worst record in the NBA this year, and are hoping to get another top-3 pick so that they can take Jabari Smith, Chet Holmgren or Paolo Banchero, the three prospects that have separated themselves from the pack so far.
Any of the three would seemingly be a good fit in Detroit, especially if the Pistons end up trading Jerami Grant, as they could all slot into the power forward position.
While Smith would give Detroit shooting and another offensive weapon, Holmgren provides rim protection and versatility while Banchero looks to be an athletic big who can do a little bit of everything.
In a recent video, Cade Cunningham made it clear which one he prefers when it comes to the top picks in the 2022 NBA Draft.
Cade Cunningham endorses Paolo Banchero in the 2022 NBA Draft
You can watch the full video here, but this is what Cade Cunningham had to say about Paolo Banchero, a guy he competed against in high school:
"“I don’t want to knock any of the other prospects from that class, but I’ve been saying that Paolo is one of my favorite players… First off, he’s huge. I don’t think a lot of people realize how big he is. He’s a legit 6-10, maybe 6-11 and just the way he moves, his game, he affects winning. He wants to make plays for his team, that’s what separates him for me… ”"
This is an interesting assessment from Cade, as he hits upon a couple of things that the Pistons desperately need, which are size and athleticism.
The Detroit Pistons could use another big, especially one with athleticism who can protect the rim, run the floor and catch lobs.
The fact that Banchero can also shoot it from long range is a bonus.
Many of the things Cunningham said about Banchero are things he could say about himself, as he is also a player with great size for his position who makes plays that affect winning.
I doubt Cade Cunningham will ultimately have much say in who the Detroit Pistons take in the 2022 NBA Draft, but he seems to be endorsing Paolo Banchero and if it works out that way for Detroit, the Pistons will have two young potential superstars to build around.