Picking at No. 1 overall in the NBA Draft for the first time since drafting Hall of Fame big man Bob Lanier 51 years ago, the Detroit Pistons have landed on a decision to select Oklahoma State guard Cade Cunningham when the 2021 NBA Draft kicks off Thursday night, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports.
Detroit officials traveled to New York to meet with Cunningham a final time on Wednesday, according to Wojnarowski, who noted that the Pistons continue to receive trade proposals for the top pick and could pivot if it they’re blown away by an offer.
Cunningham, a 6-foot-8 point guard, was long viewed as the likely pick for Detroit after it won the lottery last month. However, the Pistons worked out a number of this year’s top prospects including Jalen Green, who reportedly wowed the team in a private workout last week, and Evan Mobley, the 7-footer from USC. The front office never totally tipped their hand on where they were leaning, though Cunningham has been seen for months as the most likely to go No. 1 regardless of which team won the top pick.
