Cade Cunningham's Most Improved Player odds are a great bet

Last year was Cade Cunningham’s first full, healthy year in the NBA. We were able to see him for 60+ games, and get a glimpse of what he can be for the Detroit Pistons.

He shouldered an entire franchise for weeks on end with one of the worst rosters in the NBA that had little shooting and no veteran help. If you caught any Pistons games, you could easily see that Cade has greatness ahead of him and it’s only a matter of time.

Aside from the strides he took this past season, Trajan Langdon did nothing but put floor spacers around Cade this offseason. Last year, Cade was operating in one of the most congested offenses in the NBA and, now that he has competent spacing around him, it will be a completely different game for the 22 year old. 

Malik Beasley, Tobias Harris and Tim Hardaway Jr. will give Cade the support and assistance he needs to claim MIP this year. Getting into the lane will be a breeze, finding open teammates will be easier, and his perimeter shooting should benefit as well.  He averaged 22.7, 4.3, and 7.5 last season, and I expect that to jump somewhere around 25, 5 and 8.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Not only is an Most Improved Player season loading for Cade, but this year, he will break Detroit’s five year all-star hiatus and represent the Motor City for the Eastern Conference.

Cade Cunningham's odds for Most Improved Player

Below is the rest of the field favored for MIP next season according to DraftKings.

Victor Wembanyama +1000

Evan Mobley +1000

Jonathan Kuminga +1400

Scottie Barnes +1600

Jalen Williams +2000

Cade Cunningham +2000

For what it’s worth, the fact that Wemby and Jalen Williams are even on this list is crazy to me. Victor Wembanyama just followed possibly the most hype from a draftee since LeBron James with one of the easiest Rookie of the Year wins we’ve ever seen. Jalen Williams was just one of the most important pieces on a supremely talented Thunder team. 

This should be either Cade’s or Evan Mobley’s award to lose, as the other two players shouldn’t even be eligible, Scottie Barnes is looking at playing on one of the worst teams in the NBA, and we’re still waiting on Kuminga to break out. 

These factors make Cade Cunningham's odds look like a value bet next season.