How Monty Williams will help Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey
Detroit Pistons: How Monty Williams Will Help Cade Cunningham
Former #1 overall pick Cade Cunningham entered the league with less fanfare, pomp and circumstance than the soon-to-be top pick of the ’23 draft in Victor Wembanyama, but Cunningham is still every bit of a future franchise caliber NBA superstar. He is and will be, unless something crazy happens, the leader of this team for many years to come. Cade was showing some real progress, both down the stretch during his rookie season and the handful of games he played as a sophomore before an injury knocked him off his square.
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Stephen A. Smith recently critiqued William’s overreliance on Phoenix’s Chris Paul, observing the Suns improved team play when the Point God was sidelined by a groin injury a few weeks ago as they battled the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference semifinals. That could be an indication that Williams will utilize Cunningham to the fullest, turning over control of the offense to him. Leaning on Paul at this stage of his career when the team had other options like Devin Booker and Kevin Durant may have been a mistake, but it will serve the Pistons well if they are able to maximize Cade’s involvement.
No matter how spectacular Ivey can be, and no matter who else joins the team – be it by way of the draft, trade or free agency– Williams willingness to prioritize it’s one true franchise player in Cunningham has to be among the chief reasons Monty just got the bag he did.
Williams was brought here to win, and any #1 overall pick will be measured by that criteria in ways that aren’t even fair. Cade Cunningham must bring a championship to Detroit in order to validate his draft position, and having Williams take over as Head Coach gives him his best chance to do that.
Cunningham will thrive in an offense that demands ball movement and quick decisions, taking advantage of his skills as a passer and a scorer. One of of Cunningham’s biggest strengths is making his teammates better and he’ll have the chance to do that as the floor leader of an offense that will through him.
A quicker and more open offense will take advantage of Cade’s IQ and passing ability and he’ll be given the reins to run the show. He has the smarts and the mid-range game to have the kind of success that Chris Paul had under Williams in Phoenix.