2 reasons why Cade Cunningham rookie cards should be on your radar

It's a tragedy Cade Cunningham rookie cards didn't light the hobby world on fire as soon as they hit the market. Although the Detroit Pistons' young stud has overcome the injury bug he suffered at the start of the season, his contemporaries have already built an early against him. While they're leading in wins or other important stats, it doesn't necessarily mean the top pick in the 2021 NBA Draft has nothing to show for in his first year in the league.

Just like any first pick in recent years, the 20-year old combo guard from Oklahoma State is poised to make his impact felt in the market as soon as new card products make their way to it. Here are two solid reasons why you should keep an eye out for Cade Cunningham rookie cards.

Cade Cunningham is built for the modern NBA

The time has gone when teams focused their offense on one-dimensional big men. Instead, the modern NBA has given more emphasis on guys who can bring more to the table, both on offense and defense. One such example is Cunningham.

When viewed under the lens, Cunningham's 6'8″ size and set of elite skills make him an intriguing number option for any team. On offense this season, the rookie is averaging 15.7 points on 44% shooting from two, 32% from beyond the arc, and 85% from the free throw line. Although there's a lot to be desired from an efficiency perspective, it's just a matter of time before Cunningham gets used to making his shots. When that happens, opposing squads will have to contend with a guy who averaged 20.1 points on 40% shooting from downtown in college.

But it isn't just about buckets, as far as the Piston's rookie is concerned. What made him the consensus top pick in last year's Draft was his ability to create plays for his teammates while playing stellar defense on the other end of the court. In 44 games this season, Cunningham is averaging 5.2 assists, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per contest. These numbers mean that his impact goes beyond scoring and he can influence an outcome of a game just by doing these things at a potentially elite level.

When all of these are taken together, and with sufficient time to develop, the combo guard will surely come into his own and take a massive leap. This will be a good catalyst to push those Cade Cunningham rookie cards in the market.

Detroit’s young core will develop around Cunningham

Examining the roster, there's no doubt that Cunningham will be the central piece to the Piston's plans for the future. Even with Jerami Grant, their leading scorer, still in the lineup, the following seasons can see the team's top rookie being handed the keys to the franchise.

But even now, the pieces surrounding Cunningham are showing promise. Saddiq Bey, Detroit's second-year forward, is posting 15.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 33.6 minutes per game. These numbers are slightly up from his rookie season, which can be seen as a sign of continuous development from the 6'7″ wing.

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To a lesser degree, guys like Hamidou Diallo, Marvin Bagley III, and Isaiah Stewart are showing flashes this season. If developed correctly by Detroit, they can help optimize Cunningham's prime in the coming years. If not, the Pistons' can trade Grant for stars that will fit his game or use their cap space to accomplish this feat.

In any case, there's definitely a good ceiling for the Pistons to build around Cunningham as their foundational piece.

The verdict on Cade Cunningham rookie cards

While there's still a long way to go before the regular season ends, the race for the top rookie award isn't looking good for Cunningham. Even at this moment, guys like Evan Mobley, Scottie Barnes, and Josh Giddey are making a strong case through their impressive performances. Even if that's the case, there's still a pretty strong argument to be made for Cade Cunningham rookie cards to succeed in the market.

For one, he's still the number one pick in the draft. Number two, the talent is clearly there and it just needs enough minutes on the floor to be fully developed. Three, the Detroit Pistons is his team. When taking all of these things together, it's a no-brainer for hobbyists to hoard up on Cunningham's cards in the market.

At this point in time, collectors have a few options when hunting for Cade Cunningham rookie cards, such as NBA Hoops and Donruss Elite from Panini. When the company's flagship products do come out in the coming months, expect his stock to be one of the most sought-after in the market. Until then, it's best to go for those low-numbered and short-printed parallel rookie cards of the Pistons' star to ensure their value is sustained.