The 2021 NBA Draft is on the horizon, with just over a month until the picks are made on July 29. This year features a particularly strong class, with plenty of All-Star potential in the lottery. Detroit won the honors of picking first, but every team at the top has a chance to improve drastically.
As for the Philadelphia 76ers, the 28th pick will have to provide value of some sort, as last season’s team clearly lacked the firepower to compete for a league championship. More important moves will determine the Sixers’ title odds next season, but there’s no doubt a late first-round pick can contribute. Case and point, Tyrese Maxey — last season’s 21st overall pick.
With the lottery order set and the offseason in full swing for all but four teams, here is our first installment of our 2021 NBA Mock Draft.
2021 NBA Draft — 1. Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
The Pistons won lottery night, and with it, the right to select Cade Cunningham first overall in the 2021 NBA Draft. While there are rumblings Detroit may look elsewhere, the Pistons would be making a grave mistake to pick anyone else. Cunningham has been the clear best prospect in his class for years now, and his freshman campaign at Oklahoma State did nothing to dull that enthusiasm in draft circles.
At 6-foot-9, Cunningham is built like a defensively versatile wing, but has the skill set of a modern-day point guard. He’s already an expert out of the pick-and-roll, with great court vision and a developed sense of tempo. He can manipulate defenders with ball fakes and hesitation moves, while his pure shot-making talent hints at All-NBA potential.
Cunningham can also work off-ball, making him a compelling fit next to last year’s No. 7 pick Killian Hayes (who was No. 2 on my draft board at the time). The best teams have multiple playmakers who can threaten a defense. Detroit now has that, with a burgeoning go-to scorer in Jerami Grant, as well as young talent in the vein of Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart.