NBA Mock Draft: Orlando Magic make two surprise selections

1. Detroit Pistons – Cade Cunningham, G, Oklahoma State University

I, really, really, REALLY wanted to go with Evan Mobley here. Full disclosure, I wholeheartedly believe that Mobley will end up being a better long-term player than Cade Cunningham will. However, the fanbase might burn down Troy Weaver’s office if they pass up on Cunningham here, and it’s not like the Pistons’ current roster is good enough to justify passing on anyone (they won 19 games this year).

The Pistons selected Killian Hayes with the seventh overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, so on paper, it’s not a great look to draft lead ballhandlers in back-to-back drafts. Hayes only played in 26 games this year due to a myriad of injuries, and when he did play, he struggled offensively, shooting splits of just 39/23/82.

The Pistons could try and move Cunningham to the off-ball guard spot, but Cunningham is such a dynamic player with the ball in his hands that Hayes may end up becoming a product of unfortunate circumstances.

At 6-foot-8, Cunningham comes into the league with few other lead ballhandlers that can match up to his size.

Cunningham shot splits of 46/40/84 in his lone season for the Cowboys but was surrounded by few other shot creators on the roster besides Avery Anderson and Isaac Likele.

Where Cunningham excels is a cutter and a finisher at the rim. Being 6-foot-8 certainly helps in this regard. Cade is a three-level scorer who forces defenders to have to pay him undivided attention.

Now, there are negatives with Cunningham’s game as with any prospect.

According to ShotQuality, Cunningham ranks in the 44th percentile in their shot-per-possession rankings, which is pretty average.

Cunningham did have a true shooting percentage of 57 percent this season, which suggests a belief that he was forced to take a lot of bad shots simply because they were better than anything his teammates could create themselves.

Cunningham also finished fourth in the country with 109 turnovers leading to an average of four per game. With an average of just 3.5 assists per game, Cunningham finished the season with more turnovers than assists.

Regardless of how his rookie year turns out, Cunningham will have an impact from the minute he steps on the floor in Detroit.