The Pistons hit the jackpot with Cade Cunningham, and they're hoping for more lottery luck next month. They'll find out May 17 where they're picking in June's draft, with a 52.1 percent chance of landing in the top four and a 14 percent chance of winning the No. 1 pick for the second year in a row.
Wherever they're slotted -- they can fall no lower than No. 6 -- Troy Weaver and the Pistons will have a chance to add another pillar to their rebuild. Forwards Jabari Smith of Auburn and Paolo Banchero of Duke and center Chet Holmgren of Gonzaga are considered the top three players in the draft.
Any one of them would benefit from playing with Cunningham, and vice versa. Cunningham won't exactly have a say in who the Pistons pick, but Weaver will likely solicit his feedback on any player they like. He said Monday he just wants the team to draft "somebody, for one, that wants to work hard."
"Somebody that's going to buy into the team more than just trying to fulfill whatever their own agenda is or whatever stats they want for themselves," Cunningham said. "That's the main thing, somebody that wants to defend, play hard and play for each other. I think if we find somebody that wants to do all that, everything else will take care of itself."
Cunningham did all that this season and built a strong case for Rookie of the Year. If the Pistons add another player of his caliber and a strong free agent or two to a core that also features Saddiq Bey, Marvin Bagley III, Isaiah Stewart and an improving Killian Hayes, they could legitimately push for a playoff spot next season.
"I trust what Troy has in his plans for the team and what the build of the team will be like," Cunningham said. "I'm not too much worried about that. I'm moreso worried about how I can take my game to the next level and get ready for next year."
In addition to what's likely to be a top-four pick, the Pistons are projected to enter the offseason with the most cap space in the NBA. It sets up as a potentially transformative summer for an organization that's searching for its first playoff win since 2008.
"We know where we're trying to get to and it's exciting for all of us," said Cunningham. "I think we're all ready to take that next step and try to get into the playoffs and compete for wins."
