Rise up Detroit! The Detroit Pistons won the 2021 NBA Draft Lottery, and thus the number 1 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. It is the first time they have had the number 1 pick since 1970 (they drafted Bob Lanier) and the first time the team has ever moved up in the lottery, which dates back to 1985. It is a huge night for the Pistons and the city of Detroit. Troy Weaver looks like a really good hire as the General Manager in 2020, as he has made a bunch of savvy moves. The future just got a whole lot brighter in the Motor City, as a star looks to be coming soon.
The Pistons have been looking for a franchise player since they traded Chauncey Billups for Allen Iverson in 2008, the first mistake. They then signed Charlie Villanueva and Ben Gordon in 2009, the second mistake. They signed Josh Smith and traded for Brandon Jennings in 2013, the third mistake. They traded far too much to acquire Blake Griffin at the 2018 trade deadline, though he did make an All-Star team with the Pistons. They have been desperately looking for a star. They have made the playoffs three times since 2008, being swept out of the first round in 2009, 2016, and 2019. The Pistons have not won a playoff game, much less a series, since game 4 of the 2008 Eastern Conference Finals, which was played on May 25th, 2008. At the time of this posting, that is 4,778 days ago. They thought it would work with Villanueva, Gordon, and Richard Hamilton but it did not. They thought Josh Smith, Greg Monroe, and Andre Drummond could play together but they could not. They thought Blake Griffin was the answer they were praying for but he got hurt right before the 2019 playoffs. So many bad decisions and so little luck. They hired Stan Van-Gundy, not only as their coach, but also their President of Basketball Operations. They traded Khris Middleton as a part of the Brandon Jennings trade. However, Detroit might finally be turning the page.
Let’s go back to draft night 2020. The Pistons had the 7th pick, a pick they used on point guard Killian Hayes. They then traded for the expiring $12 million of Trevor Ariza and the 16th pick, a pick they used on all-rookie 2nd team player Isaiah Stewart, and then they traded Luke Kennard and 2nd round picks, in a 3-team trade, to acquire the 19th pick, where they drafted all-rookie 1st team player Saddiq Bey (Bey plays on the wing while Stewart plays center), and then they drafted point guard Saben Lee with the 38th pick. It looks to have been a home run first draft for Weaver. Free agency was a good one as well, yes losing Christian Wood hurt and was a mistake, but newly signed Jerami Grant had a breakout season, averaging 22.3 points and 4.6 rebounds this past season and 2017 4th overall pick Josh Jackson was a pleasant surprise. However, the Pistons were terrible, going 20-52, good enough for the second worst record in basketball and they struck gold in the lottery, with the first pick in the draft, and they should take Oklahoma State guard Cade Cunningham.
Cunningham is the kind of player you build a franchise around. He is a 6’8” guard who can play defense, shoot the basketball, can handle the ball, and is a very good passer, an elite player. Averaging 20.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists on percentages of 43% from the field, 40% from 3, and 84% from the line in his lone season at Oklahoma State. People will mention names like Evan Mobley, Jalen Suggs, and Jalen Green as players the Pistons can pursue, and they will absolutely do their homework on all of those players, but Cunningham should be the pick but that does not mean we can’t talk about the other three players as well. You may recognize the name Jalen Suggs because he hit a buzzer beater in the Final Four. Suggs is a really good player, averaging 16.2 points, 5.2 assists, and 4.8 rebounds on 50% shooting from the field, 31% from 3, and 90% from the free throw line over the final 5 games he played in the NCAA Tournament, including a buzzer beater to send Gonzaga to the National Championship Game. Evan Mobley is a very mobile big who stretches the floor well and blocks shots. Averaging 16.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks on 57% from the field, 30% from 3, and 69% from the line. Jalen Green played in the NBA G-League Bubble so scouts were able to see him against other pros and his 3 pointers were from the NBA line. Green is an elite scorer who just had a knack for getting the ball in the hoop, and was a complete sponge while playing with NBA veterans like Jarrett Jack and Amir Johnson. All are great players, but Detroit should take Cunningham.
Cunningham is the kind of player that every NBA team dreams about. He is long, athletic, defends, and can score. He can be the star that Detroit has been searching for. He might be the light at the end of the tunnel. Yes, he plays the same position as their lottery pick just last season but that shouldn’t affect the Pistons, the two can play together. His game is so well rounded with very little flaws. You can surround him with the players they have added over the last few years. Killian Hayes has the tools just needs to develop his jump shot, Saddiq Bey is a long athletic wing who can flat out shoot it, Isaiah Stewart is a rim runner who can catch lobs, and Jerami Grant is really good. They also have guys like Hamidou Diallo, Sekou Doumbouya, Josh Jackson, and Mason Plumlee. The future is looking much brighter in Detroit than it did 36 hours ago. Also, the Rockets should draft Jalen Green at number 2.
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