While the 2021 NBA Draft isn't slated to start until 8pm EST on Thursday night, the Detroit Pistons have already made up their mind about the No. 1 overall pick. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Detroit will be selecting Cade Cunningham out of Oklahoma State.
ESPN Sources: The Detroit Pistons have landed on a decision to select Oklahoma State’s Cade Cunningham with the No. 1 pick in tonight’s NBA Draft (ESPN and ABC at 8 PM ET).
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 29, 2021
The move should come as no surprise as it has long been believed that Cunningham would be the runaway No. 1 pick for whoever won the draft lottery. It just so happened to be the Pistons and even after some rumors that they would consider other options, it's Cunningham who they are going with.
Cunningham was a top recruit and starred at Oklahoma State in his lone year with the Cowboys. He helped get Oklahoma State to the second round of the NCAA Tournament and was the guy for the Cowboys all year long.
The dynamic playmaker averaged 20.1 points per game for Oklahoma State to go along with 6.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists per contest. Cunningham has a smooth shot and was great from three-point range, shooting at a 40% clip. And now, the Pistons will select him No. 1 overall and try to build around one of their future franchise cornerstones.
With the Pistons locking up their selection and the Rockets sounding all but certain that they will be taking Jalen Green, the real party in the NBA Draft with the unknown could start at No. 3 with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Even though they may have considered other outside-the-box options, it's hard to say the Pistons didn't do right here by selecting the clear-cut, top prospect in this draft class.
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