Can Detroit’s Cade Cunningham Win Rookie Of The Year?

Can you please rephrase this?

Despite the ongoing struggles of the Detroit Pistons, the enthusiasm for Cade Cunningham is reaching its peak in the Motor City.

The real deal seems to have arrived in Detroit with their first No. 1 selection since 1970. Over the weekend, they were crowned MVP of the Rising Stars event during All-Star Weekend.

Although Michigan may support Cunningham for Rookie of the Year, has his performance this year truly warranted him receiving the accolade?

When can we expect Cunningham’s talents to bring success to the Pistons as a franchise, and perhaps even more importantly, when will it happen?

Cade Cunningham Rookie of the Year odds

Although Cunningham has shown great potential on the court, several obstacles have prevented him from being a strong contender for Rookie of the Year.

He has been unable to play in 14 out of Detroit’s 58 games due to injuries. Additionally, the Pistons currently have the same number of wins (13) as the team with the fewest wins in the league.

At the All-Star Break, Evan Mobley from the Cleveland Cavaliers has clearly established himself as the top contender. Meanwhile, Cunningham finds himself among the distant challengers, including Josh Giddey from the Oklahoma City Thunder and Scottie Barnes from the Toronto Raptors.

Predictably, Michigan has shown unwavering support for their own candidate. According to PointsBet Sportsbook MI, Cunningham is receiving 58% of the wagers and 76% of the handle in the ROY market within Michigan, whereas nationally he only captures 19% of the wagers and 31% of the handle.

According to BetMGM Michigan, Cunningham has garnered 81% of the bets and 84% of the total amount wagered in their ROY market.

Cunningham among rookie stat leaders

Despite not being predicted to be a prolific scorer, Cade Cunningham has defied expectations by currently leading all rookies in scoring this season with an impressive average of 15.7 points per game.

Additionally, he holds the second position among rookies in assists, with an average of 5.2 per game, as well as steals, with a total of 57. Moreover, he ranks fifth in blocks, having accumulated 29, and seventh in rebounds, with an average of 5.5 per game.

Taking into account his assists, Cunningham contributes to a minimum of 25 points per game for the Pistons.

Cunningham’s exceptional performance in both offense and defense during the Rising Stars event in Cleveland last Friday earned him the MVP title. Throughout his team’s two games, which accumulated 75 team points, Cunningham showcased his skills with 18 points, seven rebounds, nine assists, two steals, and two blocks.

With an average of 8.1 rebounds per game and 82 blocks, Mobley is currently ahead of all other rookies in these categories. Additionally, he is maintaining an average of 14.9 points per game.

Nevertheless, the primary factor contributing to Mobley’s campaign success is Cleveland’s current position as the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference with a record of 35-23. Impressively, the Cavs have already exceeded their win total from the previous season (22) by an impressive margin of 13 victories.

Getting Cunningham some help

Michigan residents are in agreement that Detroit made the correct decision by selecting Cunningham as the No. 1 choice.

His leadership qualities and his wholehearted acceptance of being the future of the franchise have endeared him to Detroit, in addition to his impressive statistics.

The question at hand is: How can Cunningham acquire a successful supporting cast?

Can the Pistons win the Draft Lottery again?

The Pistons are expected to secure an early pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, regardless of the outcome of their final 24 games this season in Detroit.

Sports bettors have the opportunity to find the Pistons’ win total listed as low as . It is important to note that the Detroit team only achieved a total of 20 wins in the previous year.

Once again, the Pistons have a strong chance of being a top contender for the No. 1 overall pick. Throughout NBA history, only two teams have managed to win back-to-back NBA Lotteries: the Orlando Magic in 1992 and 1993, and the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2013 and 2014.

The franchise managed to make it to the NBA Finals in both cases, and it took them less than two years to achieve this.

When’s the right time to spend?

This year, there were high expectations for the Pistons to actively participate in the NBA Trade Deadline, particularly with Jerami Grant being seen as a desirable trade asset. However, Detroit was unable to secure the desired offer they were hoping for.

Despite having only one year left on his 3-year, $60 million contract, Detroit might explore the possibility of trading the experienced player during the offseason.

The upcoming offseason in Detroit is expected to provide the Pistons with a substantial cap space of at least $31 million for free agency. With this financial advantage, the team is poised to become significant participants in the market. However, it is worth noting that the free agent class of 2022 may not be as appealing as the one expected in 2025.

Zach LaVine, Miles Bridges, Jonas Valanciunas, and T.J. Warren are among the prominent unrestricted options this year.

The UFA pool in 2025 resembles an All-Star lineup, featuring notable players such as LeBron James, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Bradley Beal, Kyrie Irving, Nikola Jokic, and Nikola Vucevic.

Although Pistons fans are eager for a victorious team in Detroit, it might be wise to hold onto their money this offseason and instead aim to acquire a significant player in 2025.

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