What a difference a season has made for Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons.
At this time last year, we were wondering if the Pistons should blow up the roster and start over, and many questioned whether Cunningham was a guy you could really build a playoff team around.
No one is asking that now, as Cunningham has emerged as one of the best point guards in the league, already named an All-Star and with rumblings he could crack the All-NBA team with his team on the verge of making its first playoff appearance since the 2018-19 season.
It’s a far cry from how Cunningham and the Pistons were viewed at the beginning of the season, as ESPN had Cade ranked as the 67th-best player in the league, which was ridiculous even at the time and looks even more absurd now.
Most picked the Pistons to win fewer games in total than they already have by the last day of February and much of that improvement has come on the back of Cade Cunningham, who is finally getting respect put on his name, but still may be underrated.
Cade Cunningham ranked 25th in recent playing rankings
The Fansided mothership recently ranked the top 99 players in the NBA (you can find the whole list here) and had Cade Cunningham at 25th, a big leap into legit star territory.
I am Homer #1, so take this for what it’s worth, but it’s still too high if you want my completely biased opinion.
If you don’t have Cunningham on your All-NBA team, he’s on the fringes, which would likely still have him in the top-20, as you have to account for injuries to guys like Luka Doncic that have prevented him from playing the minimum number of games to make the team.
On the Fansided list, I would put Cade ahead of De’Aaron Fox (22), Franz Wagner (21), Tyrese Maxey (20) and Trae Young (17), with a strong argument to be made against Domantas Sabonis (24) and Damian Lillard (23) as well.
Before I start getting hate mail, Cade (who they have listed as a wing even though he’s a point guard who is 3rd in the league in assists) is the only one of the guards defending at a high level this season. Fox is a sneaky good defender when it comes to steals, but he’s not defending Kristaps Porzingis and Derrick White effectively in the same game as Cade just did.
Again, I am totally biased, but when you look at Cade’s numbers, his defense and where his team is in the standings with no superstar additions last offseason, he has a case to be in the top-15, closer to a two-way player like Anthony Edwards (who has similar stats). Cunningham was 17th in The Ringer's recent ratings, which seems fair.
I would also say the same of Evan Mobley, ranked 26th, who should be a bit higher and garner All-NBA consideration this season for what he does on both ends for a very good team.
In this end, these numbers are meaningless and Cade will get his flowers as soon as his team makes the playoffs and makes some noise on the big stage.