We’re less than a week away from the draft, and that means everyone is scrounging for intel, teams are setting off smoke screens, and player agents are jockeying to shape the narrative to best suit their client and maybe even improve their draft position.
It is with that context in mind that we share with you the following report from Adrian Wojanrowski of ESPN — the Pistons are not fully committed to selecting Cade Cunningham with the first overall pick, and Cade, as well as Jalen Green and Evan Mobley, are all in the running for No. 1, according to Wojnarowski.
Detroit’s internal meetings are still revolving around three players for the No. 1 pick on Thursday night — Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green and Evan Mobley, sources tell ESPN. Detroit isn’t fully there yet on committing to Cunningham with their first overall choice.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 26, 2021
This story is as inevitable as it is likely to be inconsequential when it is all said and done. Around this time in every draft process, stories begin to emerge that maybe the guy everyone is reporting is likely to be selected No. 1 isn’t really going to be selected No. 1.
That is because there is no real reason for the team with the top pick to show their cards or to make any final decisions until they are on the clock. Do I believe that the Pistons are 100% committed to picking Cade first overall? No.
But I think at this point they are 90% positive who they are going to select and will simply let all their options play out over time. And I believe that the far most likely selection is Cunningham.
It could be Green. It could be Mobley. We literally won’t know for sure until the name is called at the podium. But don’t take this report as any sort of waffling on Troy Weaver’s part or a lack of confidence from the scouting department in Cunningham’s game.
The Pistons haven’t fully committed yet, because there is zero upside to committing until the last possible moment. Between now and draft night a lot can happen. The myriad things that could happen are all extremely unlikely, but, hey, just in case … best to keep their mouths shut and their options open.
The NBA Draft is on July 29, and it can not get here fast enough.