CLEVELAND, Ohio — Our look at the 2021 NBA Draft starts with the player who is likely to be the No. 1 pick in Oklahoma State guard/forward Cade Cunningham.
The 6-foot-8, 220-pound Cunningham was a star in his lone season at Oklahoma State, helping the Cowboys reach the Big 12 Championship Game.
Cunningham is the first player we’re featuring in a series of capsules where you’ll get to know the top prospects in the 2021 NBA Draft from the elite players to the late-lottery sleepers.
Here is what you need to know about Cunningham.
2020-21 stats per game
20.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 43.8 field goal percentage, 40.0 3-point percentage, 84.6 free-throw percentage.
Watch some highlights of Cunningham.
What the experts are saying about Cunningham
“Cade Cunningham is an early favorite to go No.1. ... He’s had some ups and downs so far in his college career but his immense talents are on full display and it’s clear that he’ll benefit a lot from playing with NBA level players and the spacing of the NBA game. As a big guard he’s able to control the pace of the game and is a very polished prospect for his age, showing maturity beyond his years. His court vision and decision making are elite and he’s got the handles and strength to get to his spots and manipulate the defense.” – NBADraftRoom.com.
“Dictates offensive tempo with the poise of a veteran point guard. Potentially dominant pick-and-roll shot-creator with great feel and footwork. Uses hesitations and deceptive moves to generate space. Smart passer who already understands how to manipulate defense with his dribble, gaze, or patience. He can make every pass in the book—whether it’s one-handed cross-court feeds, wraparounds to a rim runner, or slick passes off the dribble.” – The Ringer.
What Chris Fedor thinks about Cunningham
“There’s no player the Cleveland Cavaliers need more than Cade Cunningham — a supersized playmaking wing with two-way potential and a extraordinary isolation package. An unselfish player with winning intangibles, Cunningham is a three-level scorer and potential matchup nightmare at the next level, able to use his size and strength to overpower smaller defenders or rise above and fire from outside. His unique size also allows him to hold his own against frontcourt players while also being able to see over the defense and create passing angles. "
Cleveland.com’s Matt Goul has Cunningham going with the No. 1 pick to the Rockets in his latest NBA mock draft. Here is what he said:
“Houston’s rebuild will get the fuel it needs if it can win the lottery and take Cunningham. He has many of the qualities Ben Simmons brought as the top pick in 2016, but with a better jump shot. Both have 7-foot wing spans. A question for Houston could be what it does with John Wall, who came over in the Russell Westbrook trade last December. Wall, 30, still has two more years on his contract.”
Will he be available for the Cavaliers?
Only if they win the lottery. Cunningham is a potential superstar due to his tremendous offensive game. He shoots very well and can also run the offense as a point forward.
Cunningham also the tools to be a quality defender at the NBA level. He lacks elite athleticism, but that’s seemingly the only significant flaw in his game. He’s worthy of the No. 1 pick and could potentially be a franchise-changing player for whoever takes him.
How he could fit
Cunningham is a Day 1 starter. If it’s the Cavaliers who get him, they get a player who is not only a great talent, but a great fit. They need a dynamic wing player and a face of the franchise to push the timetable of the rebuild forward. He’s a true No. 1 option and can not only be a go-to scorer, but he can be another initiator of the offense along with Darius Garland.
From a starting lineup perspective, the combo of Cunningham and Isaac Okoro could complement each other very well. Both are long defenders, although Okoro is more athletic than Cunningham. But Cunningham’s shooting ability can open things up for Okoro to drive more to the basket.
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