2021 NBA Draft Big Board — 2. Evan Mobley, USC
Evan Mobley can do just about everything on a basketball court, which is rare for 7-footers. Let’s say, hypothetically, he ends up in Houston or Cleveland. He should immediately become the most important offensive and defensive player on those teams. He has the potential to anchor a franchise on both ends, with rare versatility and a wide-ranging skill set on both sides of the ball.
Offensively, Mobley will get opportunities to score and facilitate out of the middle of the floor. He makes quick reads and delivers accurate passes. As a scorer, he has range out to the 3-point line, with a polished post game and exceptional fluidity facing up. He can pick or pop, and on defense, he will block a lot of shots and move his feet on the perimeter. Expect immediate stardom from him.
2021 NBA Draft Big Board — 1. Cade Cunningham, Oklahoma State
There’s no other answer here. The Pistons can feign interest in other guys all they want, but if Cade Cunningham isn’t the first name called on July 29, a mistake was made. No player is ever a guarantee to be the best player in a draft — both Mobley and Green are future All-Stars. That said, Cade truly checks every box. He’s a great three-level scorer, a dynamic 6-foot-8 playmaker, and a potentially elite multi-positional defender.
Cunningham is not the most explosive athlete, which is the only real knock on his upside. It probably won’t matter much. He uses craft to create space and keep defenders at a distance. He has the size to shoot over top, and the 3-point range necessary to demand closeouts, and subsequently pick them apart. He’s a genuine point guard, despite his strong frame and the size of a small-ball four. The Pistons are a lucky franchise.