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2021-22 NBA Awards: S-and-S Staff Roundtable

By Dylan Jackson

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 15: Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets argues with Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks after he is fouled by him in Game Five of the Second Round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs at Barclays Center on June 15, 2021 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 15: Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets argues with Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks after he is fouled by him in Game Five of the Second Round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs at Barclays Center on June 15, 2021 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 15: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons poses for a photo during the 2021 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot on August 15, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 15: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons poses for a photo during the 2021 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot on August 15, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images) /

2021-22 NBA Awards Predictions: Rookie of the Year

DJ: Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons

Cade Cunningham is a boring pick here – but he’s undoubtedly got the best shot for winning Rookie of the Year. He’s a 6-foot-8 playmaker with high-level shooting and defense. There’s not much to nitpick about his game, and Cunningham should fill in the stat sheet on a lowly Pistons squad.

SS: Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons

The easy pick here. On a bad Pistons team, Cade Cunningham is going to be asked to do a lot so he’ll likely finish the season with some very solid stats. Even if his scoring isn’t there just yet, his playmaking alone should carry him to a very successful rookie campaign.

JP: Jalen Green, Houston Rockets

Jalen Green really wanted to be the No.1 pick. After impressive play for the G-league Ignite team, Green was picked No.2 by Houston. Green’s G-league experience gives him an advantage that other rookies don’t have. Playing against better competition last year will allow Green to adapt to the NBA quicker, making him my pick to win rookie of the year.

GM: Cade Cunningham, Houston Rockets

I love Cade. I loved watching him in college, I will love watching him in the NBA. However even excluding my personal bias I feel like he has the most obvious case. The offense will run through him and he is already good enough to be an engine and get numbers. His efficiency will probably not be awful. The Pistons are more ready to win than the Rockets and Magic as a little tiebreaker, and Mobley doesn’t seem ready to put up huge numbers although his game is really mature. The one wildcard I am really considering is Scottie Barnes who could have a lot of freedom early on with Siakam out, but the Raptors want to compete until it’s clear they cannot, so Cade is really the default option here.

EB: Jalen Green, Houston Rockets

Cade Cunningham is the odds-on favorite, but Jalen Green is a name to keep an eye on for this award as well. Green’s learning curve will not be quite as steep after spending a year in the G-League, and he enters a situation where he will be given ample playing time and scoring responsibility.

JH: Jalen Green, Houston Rockets

Drafted second overall, Jalen Green will immediately be the go-to guy in Houston and he has all of the ability to make the most of it. Green has the potential to be a superstar in this league and even though Cade Cunningham was the first pick of the draft and is extremely talented, Green has slightly better talent around him to help him easily adjust to the NBA level.

MW: Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons

This is the easy pick. Cade Cunningham is one of the best prospects we’ve seen come through in recent years. The Detroit Pistons had the easiest choice out of any team in this years draft. The Pistons are not gonna be a contender anytime in the near future. In that case, I expect Cade to dominate the ball-handling and be the go-to for Detroit. This will lead to a great stat line and easy selection as ROTY.

QE: Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons

I was going to pick someone niche or trendy here, but decided to not overthink it. Cade is the most talented player from this draft class, the most NBA-ready, and the most complete (on October 11th, 2021, anyway. Evan Mobley may challenge for the “most complete” title down the road). Cade should immediately be in charge of the Pistons offense, a unit that I think will be much better than people think. Please put the pitchforks down.

JF: Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons

I think this year’s ROTY race will resemble last year’s quite closely, with Jalen Green playing the part of Anthony Edwards and Cunningham playing the part of Lamelo Ball. Green will have plenty of opportunity to put up impressive numbers in meaningless games for the ramshackle Rockets, but I like Cunningham to fill up the whole stat sheet and edge him out as a quality young leader for a Pistons squad that was feisty enough in its own right last season.

Final tally: Cade Cunningham (DET) 6, Jalen Green (HOU) 3

Takeaways: Cade Cunningham is a 6-foot-8 lead guard with high-level shooting and defense. It was hard to see a scenario which he wouldn’t win this category. Could Jalen Green or Evan Mobley walk away with it later on, though? Absolutely.

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