OKC Thunder: NBA draft prospect profile – Cade Cunningham

Pro Comparison:

Kevin O’Connor of the Ringer lists OKC Thunder cornerstone SGA calling Cunningham a “Supersized Shai Gilgeous-Alexander”.  KOC also taps Ben Simmons noting he’s shorter than the 76ers guard and highlights the obvious (he has a jump shot).

Others have suggested Jayson Tatum and Luka Doncic as players Cunningham resembles.

I think he possesses similarities to the above quartet but his ability to dominate all areas of the game put him in a category of his own. Unlike Tatum, Doncic, and SGA who quickly became their team’s primary scoring option, I think Cunningham is more likely to be best suited in the secondary position (not that he won’t grow into that primary role).

When we think of players like LeBron James and Nikola Jokic although they are capable of that primary scoring role both excel because of their ability to dissect defenses and put their teammates in the best position to succeed. I believe that’s where Cunningham will eventually be at his best.

OKC Thunder fit:

Part of the reason why Cade Cunningham is considered the definitive top draft prospect is there isn’t one team in the association he couldn’t fit with. He will immediately improve whatever team he ends up drafted by.

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With that obvious fact, there are some teams he’ll have a greater impact on both in the short and long term with the OKC Thunder clearly in that group. The hope is Sam Presti figures out a deal or series of deals to navigate his way into a position to draft the youngster.

His size and ability would be the perfect complement to the positionless style Mark Daigneault employs with the Thunder.  Part of the disappointment of not getting the top draft pick in the lottery is so many of us already had visions of the SGA – Cunningham backcourt and just how lethal their combination of length and skills would’ve reaped on the league.

Here’s hoping Presti still has tricks up his magician’s sleeve because Cunningham wouldn’t just be the perfect addition to OKC he’d accelerate the club’s return to prominence.