2021 NBA Mock Draft 4.0: Detroit Pistons land the draft’s biggest prize

The Detroit Pistons got exactly what they were looking for, cashing in a 14 percent chance at the No. 1 pick to land in the top spot. They’re early enough in their rebuild that star power is more important than the particular package that star power comes in and they can feel comfortable opting for the floor- and ceiling-raising potential of Cade Cunningham.

Cunningham is a versatile wing with terrific size, strength and skill, and the potential to be a two-way star. On offense, there’s really nothing he can’t do — he’s an elite passer, creator and pull-up shooter who’s also comfortable playing off the ball or taking a smaller defender down in the post. At 6-foot-7 and with strong defensive tools, instincts and motor he can handle a variety of matchups while filling the role of primary creator and initiator on offense. If there are any questions about his upside they’ll come down to a lack of athletic explosiveness but he more than makes up for it with his body control and skill level. A Luka Doncic comparison feels wild but that’s the kind of role he would play on offense, with potentially more defensive upside.

Cunningham can easily share the backcourt with last year’s first-round pick Killian Hayes and he’ll make things infinitely easier for Jerami Grant, Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart. Things are definitely looking up in Detroit.

Check out our full scouting report for more on Cade Cunningham.