The Detroit Pistons got a bit of luck from the NBA Lottery gods on Tuesday night.
With former Piston Ben Wallace as their virtual representative, Detroit walked away with the top overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.
This will be the third time Detroit has the top overall selection for the first time since 1970.
That draft saw them take Bob Lanier, so Pistons fans will be hoping for another Hall of Fame-caliber player.
With the Lottery in the rearview, media attention will now turn to figuring out who will be going No. 1.
Oklahoma State guard Cade Cunningham is considered the top prospect in the draft.
Pistons Will Take Cunningham First Overall
With the lottery order set, I went on the clock with the great Neil Everett last night and broke down who I would select with each of the top 3 picks. Who should the Pistons select 1st overall? Here’s my choice: pic.twitter.com/8OlgRwRgoq
— Mike Schmitz (@Mike_Schmitz) June 23, 2021
Detroit is currently in a rebuilding phase.
At this point in the process, teams need to prioritize drafting the best overall prospect who has the highest ceiling over potential fit.
To join the league’s elite teams, a franchise needs a cornerstone.
All signs point to the Oklahoma State product being taken first overall.
He was the second-ranked recruit coming out of high school and lived up to expectations in college.
In his one year as a Cowboy, Cade averaged 20.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game.
Cunningham also tacked on 1.6 steals and 0.8 blocks per game while shooting 44 percent from the field, 40 percent from deep, and 85 percent from the line.
His 6-foot-8, 220-pound frame with point guard skills makes him a can’t-miss prospect in the modern NBA.
According to a report on NBA.com, Cunningham is a polished prospect who is ready to be a franchise cornerstone.
His advanced passing and shooting ability make him a threat in the pick-and-roll, as he can hit open teammates anywhere on the court, pull up from beyond the arc, or attack the basket and finish.
He has a 7-foot wingspan, which will help him guard multiple positions at the next level.
He is not a freak athlete, however, so he will need to get quicker to hang with NBA guards on defense.
Cunningham has drawn comparisons to Luka Doncic, Jimmy Butler, and Jayson Tatum.
Detroit would be thrilled if they draft a player who reaches the level of those three players.
Other Prospects To Monitor
The Detroit Pistons tonight won NBA Draft Lottery 2021 presented by State Farm, which was conducted at the NBA office in Secaucus, New Jersey. The Pistons will have
the first overall pick in NBA Draft 2021 presented by State Farm, which will be held on Thursday, July 29. pic.twitter.com/ijLhibxkg7— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) June 23, 2021
While it appears Cunningham is the clear-cut option at No. 1, there are three other names to monitor.
Jalen Suggs, Evan Mobley, and Jalen Green all appear to sit in the tier-2 range, but have All-Star potential.
All three players were in the top six of their recruiting class, with Green leading the pack at the top followed by Mobley at three and Suggs at six.
Suggs is another strongly build point guard, measuring in at 6-foot-4, 205 pounds.
The former high school football player is a tremendous athlete who is also an intelligent player on both ends of the court.
He averaged 14.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.9 steals per game for Gonzaga as a freshman.
While his shooting percentages leave some to be desired (50/34/75), Suggs has a solid shooting form that looks like it should translate well.
Mobley is a 7-foot tall, 215-pound center with elite defensive ability.
The USC product blocked 2.9 shots per game with the Trojans while helping lead them to the Elite Eight.
Evan is considered a unicorn who could have a tremendous impact on both ends of the court.
He moves his feet well, which allows him to switch onto guards and stay in front of them.
His shooting touch hints at 3-level scoring ability and if he can improve his ball-handling, a team could conceivably run their offense through him, similar to Anthony Davis or Joel Embiid.
Green was one of the prospects who took advantage of the G League coming out of high school.
The top recruit in his class skipped over college and went on to average 18 points per game in the G League on solid shooting splits with good volume (46/37/83).
Green will only be 19 years old on draft night and has tons of room for improvement.
He is a natural athlete who can attack off the dribble and finish at the rim.
His shooting from deep is a bit streaky but will be an elite scorer if he figures out his shooting touch.
NEXT: 2 Players Detroit Pistons Can Actually Build Around