The Detroit Pistons are 13-45 so far this season. Nothing they do differently down the stretch of the season will impact how it plays out. All they can do is look to get their young guys enough reps to build a good foundation for their development.

With the Pistons on the path to the best odds in the NBA draft lottery, there aren't many expectations to live up to. They will likely remain one of the worst teams in the league through the remainder of the season, which is beneficial to their pursuit of a top draft pick.

One Pistons player, however, will have to sustain his level of play. Their most important player won't be expected to lift the team out of the basement. But his performance individually will be the main reason why the Pistons will be worth keeping an eye on for the rest of the season.

The 1 Pistons player with most to prove after 2022 All-Star break

Cade Cunningham, the reigning number one overall pick in the draft, has been solid this season. He leads rookies in scoring with 15.7 points per game. He is also recording 5.5 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game while shooting 39.4 percent from the field, 32.7 percent from deep and 85.6 percent from the free-throw line. The Pistons seem to have made the right pick when they chose the 6-foot-6 point guard.

Cunningham is not alone in the Rookie of the Year Award race. He may not even be ahead. Evan Mobley, Franz Wagner, Scottie Barnes and Josh Giddey are all enjoying very good rookie campaigns. Mobley, in particular, looks terrific. He has been a huge part of the Cleveland Cavaliers' resurgence. Cunningham has certainly been good but Mobley's ROTY case is superior.

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The Pistons own the worst record of any of those players' respective teams, save for Wagner's Orlando Magic who are one game behind the Pistons. Detroit may cost Cunningham some award votes since players like Barnes and Mobley are contributing to playoff-level teams. If Cunningham loses out on the trophy, he shouldn't be knocked for it. He has already put together a respectable rookie season that shows he has potential. A trophy would be a cherry on top.

The thing that Cunningham needs to do most of all is prove that he can reach a higher level of production. He doesn't even need to approach a bonafide All-Star level for the remainder of the season. What he does have to do is increase his ability to run the Pistons show and increase his scoring percentages to at least an average level. With Detroit slated to have one of the highest picks in this year's draft, they'll have to be sure that Cunningham is one of the main pillars they can use to rebuild.

Detroit doesn't have many other players that have that much pressure. Jerami Grant is proven to be a good player and the rest of the team's young guys are not expected to be high-level contributors. Cunningham's immense talent at such a young age and the fact that the Pistons took him first overall put tremendous weight on his shoulders.

Cunningham admitted that all the losing that the Pistons have done this season has been difficult. He can't put them on a winning path alone but he can accelerate their progress. None of his teammates carry the burden that they are expected to do this.