Well, it’s finally here. It’s Cade Day. Cade Cunningham is suiting up in a Detroit Pistons uniform and taking the floor against the Oklahoma City Thunder. He’s joined by plenty of intriguing pieces, but let’s be real — all eyes will be on the No. 1 overall pick tonight at the Thomas and Mack Center on the first official night of the Las Vegas Summer League.
There are so many questions Pistons fans have been dying to get answers to since Detroit drafted Cunningham. What position will he spend the most time? How much will he be the primary ball-handler and playmaker? Will he be able to get teammates involved as easily as he has shown at every previous level? How will he work alongside other, more established veterans and how will those veterans work around him?
Answers might not come tonight, but the evidence will begin piling up. And hopefully Cunningham will be able to put on a show. The game begins at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN2.
Joining Cunningham is a group of Pistons vets looking to make quick work of Summer League competition — Saddiq Bey, Killian Hayes, Sekou Doumbouya, Saben Lee. The Pistons will also get a look at a crop of second-round picks and some interesting rookies brought in to compete for a two-way deal, an exclusive deal for the Motor City Cruise G League team, or even a professional deal overseas.
That includes second-round picks Luka Garza, a 3-point sniper and true center from iowa, Balsa Koprivica, a 7-footer from Florida State, Michigan native and Toledo standout Spencer Littleson, bulldgog forward Anthony Tarke and more.
The Thunder, meanwhile, will be led by Theo Maledon, Josh Giddey, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Tre Mann.
A new era is finally here. Let’s get to work.