The Detroit Pistons have built a contender around Cade Cunningham, but holes remain in their rotation. Chief among the concerns that fans typically express is that Cunningham carries too heavy a burden on offense and is inadequately offered the opportunity to play away from the ball.
Christopher Kline of FanSided.com offered an intriguing option for addressing that issue when he proposed that the Pistons select Christian Anderson in a recent mock draft.
If the modern NBA has proven anything, it's that depth is about more than just having off-ball players who can knock down open shots or hard-nosed defenders. The best teams can attack from multiple angles on offense, with no shortage of options for shot creation and playmaking.
Unfortunately, the Pistons still lag behind the top-tier teams in that regard and have thus burdened Cunningham in an arguably unsustainable manner. Kline believes Anderson can help resolve the issue.
"Anderson is highly active on defense, despite his stature, which bodes well for his translation to the next level. He keeps a tight lid on turnovers and has proven proficient at all three levels. From daring pull-up 3s to mid-range barrages and flashy below-rim finishes, Anderson offers a deep bag of tricks and touches all areas of the game."
If Anderson is able to translate those characteristics to the NBA, then the Pistons would take a significant step forward as Cunningham's job becomes far easier to manage.
Pistons select Christian Anderson in Christopher Kline's new mock draft
Anderson will turn 20 roughly two months before the 2026 NBA Draft and already has an impressive résumé. He earned All-Tournament honors at the 2022 FIBA U16 and 2024 FIBA U18 EuroBasket events, and has helped Germany win medals at five different competitions.
Anderson is now thriving for the Texas Tech Red Raiders, continuing his winning ways by helping the team rank in the top 15 in the country.
Anderson has established himself as a top-tier collegiate player by thriving alongside fellow NBA Draft prospect JT Toppin. Knowing that he can share a significant workload is an encouraging sign that he could not only complement Cunningham, but work to simplify offense for Jalen Duren.
It doesn't hurt that Anderson has produced elite statistics in such an environment at 19.6 points, 7.5 assists, 3.7 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 3.2 three-point field goals made per game on .485/.425/.769 shooting.
With an elite jump shot, top-tier court vision, and intriguing defensive proficiency, Anderson could slot right in as a key cog in the rotation. His presence would create healthy competition for minutes with Jaden Ivey and Marcus Sasser, and give Cunningham a chance to conserve his energy during the regular season.
If the Pistons have the chance to select Anderson in June, then Kline is spot on in his evaluation of the Texas Tech star as an ideal option late in the first round.