Pistons select Cunningham at No. 1
The Detroit Pistons selected Oklahoma State guard Cade Cunningham with the No. 1 overall choice of Thursday's NBA draft in New York.
The Pistons had been projected to pick Cunningham since winning the lottery last month.
Cunningham averaged 20.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists and was Big 12 player of the year during his lone college season with the Cowboys. He led the team in scoring, assists, steals (43) and 3-point baskets (62).
The Pistons went 20-52 last season — the second-worst record in the NBA — and missed the post-season for the 10th time in the past 12 campaigns.
“Words can't even explain the emotions,” Cunningham said on ABC of being the No. 1 overall pick. “I'm just so happy to be here and see what I can do on the next level.”
It marked the first time Detroit has selected first since choosing Bob Lanier in 1970. Lanier was a seven-time Allstar during 9½ seasons with the Pistons and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992.
Cunningham is 6-foot-8 with a nearly 7-foot wingspan and, at just 19 years old, gives Detroit a building block with a versatile skill set.
The Pistons drafted a point guard in the lottery in 2020, but the No. 7 overall pick Killian Hayes tore the labrum in his hip in January. He's rehabbing and general manager Troy Weaver said he expected Hayes to contribute in 2021-22.
Detroit's rebuild is complicated by nearly US$34 million in dead cap money for the 202122 season. The majority of that space goes to Blake Griffin, whose scheduled $29.8 million base salary for the upcoming season counts against the Pistons. Even so, Weaver said the Pistons would be actively involved in the free agency starting Monday.
The team's highest-paid player is forward Jerami Grant, who is heading into the second year of a three-year, $60-million deal signed last November.
The Washington Wizards agreed
to send superstar Russell Westbrook to the Los Angeles Lakers for three players and the No. 22 pick in Thursday night's NBA draft, The Athletic and ESPN reported.
In addition to the first-round pick, the Wizards received Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-pope and Montrezl Harrell. The Wizards sent their 2024 second-round pick and 2028 second-round pick to the Lakers.