Likely No. 1 pick Cade Cunningham praised the Pistons organization and the city of Detroit in his only scheduled pre-draft visit, Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press writes.
Cunningham worked out with the Pistons on Tuesday.
“The organization has a lot of great people within it,” Cunningham said. “I mean, starting from the owners, Troy Weaver is a great GM, and then, you know, all the way down. They got just great people throughout. So I learned a lot on my visit. If they take me, I’ll definitely be excited to be there.”
Cunningham, who excelled in his lone college season at Oklahoma State, explained his decision to work out for one team.
“I wanted to meet with the team with the No. 1 pick and I feel like I’m the No. 1 pick,” he said. “I met with Detroit, they’re the ones that had the pick.”
However, Cunningham might visit with another team if Detroit opts to trade the top selection, according to James Edwards III of The Athletic.
“If the Rockets get the No. 1 pick, I’d meet with them if there is enough time,” he said when asked about the possibility of Houston trading up.
Houston holds the No. 2 pick and is expected to have more discussions with Detroit as the draft nears, according to The Athletic’s Kelly Iko. The Rockets had some talks with the Pistons during the draft combine last month in Chicago and are prepared to make an offer to move up a spot.
Cunningham is content with the Pistons holding onto the pick and sees himself as fitting in not only with the team but the city.
“Detroit fits me, that’s the main thing I’m going to try to do is step in and embody the swag that people from Detroit walk with, the people from Michigan in general,” he said. “They have an underdog, go-get-what-you-want feel to them and I like that about the city.”
Imagine if he said it sucked
Detroit used to have that reputation before the recent gentrification. But it still kinda sucks.
Detroit will still have that grind mentality. Do you even live here?
Cade, Frank Jackson, Hami Diallo, Josh Jackson, Saddiq Bey, Jerami Grant, Isaiah Stewart, Mase Plumlee is a nice core to go forward with… They got a decision to make as far as Killian Hayes vs Saben Lee & which one of those guys will be apart of that core & I’m sure next season will be key for both those guys
Several of those guys are free agents and not guaranteed to even be in Detroit next year, let alone be part of the core.
And Josh Jackson should not be a part of any teams core.
yes he obv should & he obv is
Name these several guys you’re talking about
I would just take out josh J and Diallo as Detroit will have plenty if young guys to groom vs older “young” guys that require more time. Solid core of players to build with though.
In what why exactly? The city? The crime? The losing team?
For Cade I have to get #2, #23, and next yrs #1.
Pistons are not trading Cade. Rockets should take Mobley.
I wouldn’t say no to Mobley, he has a very enticing skill set and may be great someday. The only question people have with him at #2 is how he would play alongside Wood, who has performed well in the same starting lineup at Olynyk, so they can co-exist in Houston.
I wouldn’t say no to Jalen Suggs either, but Jalen Green looks like he might be what the Rockets are looking for to fill the void in their offense created when Harden left for Brooklyn.
Plus Jalen Green isn’t a horrible defender like Harden was when he had to come off the bench for OKC because he was such a defensive liability for so much of his career.
The model for taking a big man now is having 4 other perimeter players. Like Utah or GSW. Houston doesn’t fit that model, but Toronto does. Houston and the Cavs both go guard imo.
Houston will probably pay Kelly and roll with what they have until they can dump Gordon. I would burn a couple draft picks today and send him to OKC or anywhere for an expiring contract. Just move on faster. A mid 20s pick is a crap shoot anyway.
Not enough IMO. Rockets should try to improve that late pick via trade and come back with higher compensation. Also with their roster I’d hold on to next years 1..They will most Piet be top 5 pick again next year. Ping pong balls..
First, who’s drafting who? Second, what difference does it make if he meets with a team before drafting him from his perspective? He has zero choice outside of playing in a completely different league as far as who to play for rn.
Draft in sports is either the most un-american or the most american thing ever. No freedom. Benefits only rich ream owners. Young, mostly black athletes, being selected and traded without having any say in this.
You are spot on.
Aww, those poor babies. These unproven guys with barely a high school education only get millions of dollars to play a game, but you think they deserve even more freedom? But exactly how does them getting paid millions of dollars with virtually no education or job skills benefit ONLY the rich team owners?
No one can learn any skills useful in life at college that is for sure… so I don’t much see your point!
Maybe if you went to college you would be better at understanding simple points.
I learned quite a bit at the South Harmon Institute of Technology.
So if they had the freedom to chose their own teams and all picked the Big 6~8 franchises what exactly would your stance be then ? Coastal bias , media’s fault ? Jam another obscure race bit in somehow?
This is either a white guy trying to stir up some race drama or a troll.
First – Race has nothing to do with the draft as it’s implemented in all leagues and baseball and hockey are almost all white.
Second – they are well compensated
Third – they do have a say. They can quit or go to Europe or go to college, graduate, and a get a job, learn a trade skill, or join the military. The same
Choices as everyone else in America.
Black guy here. You’re off completely imo. First, purely from a sports perspective, this is a sports. No one is forced to join the NBA. They can play overseas. The league represents all of its members. For the benefit of all, the league tries to give each team a corresponding opportunity to acquire top talent, regardless of their market size. So new members seeking entry agree to the rules regarding the draft order. At worst they sign with that team for their first 5 years. During their time, a large portion of their contract money is guaranteed, regardless of their failure or injury concerns. Once they play their first 3-5 years they are free to go where they choose. That’s for the health of the league. You can’t have a successful league with just 8 cities. With no draft would MJ have signed with Chicago? Would Larry Bird have signed with the Celtics instead of the Pacers? Don’t even use the “black” thing. That draft format exists in baseball, football and hockey too. HOCKEEEEEY!!! :)
no caps, no drafts. how sports should be.
Are you referring all major American sports? If you are your incorrect and they have a choose to not make millions for the job they are Being hired for. 7% MLB, less than 5% hockey, 57% NFL, 74% NBA. The combines, college, semi pro and etc is the interview and the teams get a chance to hire from a pool. Same as a talent agency. Though not the norm some have chosen not to play for the team that drafts them. For the business to exist the draft is actually the way everyone wins. Can’t have leagues in general when big market teams can hire and sign whomever they want.
Keep it Bball simple Simon’s
Cade could of said don’t draft me or I ain’t going there like Kobe did the Hornets
Cade plus Grant and Bey will keep us in the mix for the foreseeable future the rest is fate.
Cade must be a big fan of post apocalyptic movies if he likes what he sees in Detroit.