The 2021 NBA Draft took place on Thursday, and a lot of teams got better. Some questionable picks were obviously made, but it is never perfect. When one team takes a different strategy than expected, it adds a bunch of twists and turns to the matter. When that occurs, the vision obviously gets altered.
And now that free agency has begun rapidly, it’s time to look back at some squads that made some moves, for better or worse. Via the draft, that is.
Pistons Get Their Man
Cade Cunningham was always going to go #1 in the draft, and of course, that is what happened. He is a Detroit Pistons player, and he is ready to lead them into the future. They made an interesting free agent signing in Kelly Olynyk after trading Mason Plumlee, leaving a bit of a question mark as to which player will start next to Cade at center.
But Cunningham himself is very talented. Not only can he score at an effective clip, but he’s an elite playmaker. At his size and with the frame he’s got, nothing will be easy for the defense as they try and slow him down. The Pistons are trying to snap a long playoff drought.
Cavs Get Better with Mobley
Now that Evan Mobley is a Cavalier officially, he’s here to tear it up. And it is finally time to dump Kevin Love from the roster. Whether it is by trade or buyout, the man should be on his way out. It not working at the Olympics should have been hint enough that matters were not going to improve.
Mobley is something of a unicorn, a guy who is big and can do what guards can. There is not much he is unable to do on the floor, and his future is oh so bright within the NBA. His ability to knock shots down from deep and showcase a floater is going to take him to another level. He will be an All-Star before too long.
Mobley will split time next to Jarrett Allen and as the starting center, too. Mobley is a guy who will make the team into a playoff contender before too long.
Magic Draft Two Studs
When Scottie Barnes went to the Raptors, Jalen Suggs was left available. And now, next to Cole Anthony, is another young stud. The two of them will be a tremendous tandem in the years to come, and they will hit all of the big shots. They also made out with Franz Wagner. Funnily enough, his brother Moe finished last season with Orlando.
This is a team laden with young talent, and the new guys will come in and have an immediate impact. Veterans are nice, but a fully young squad with a new coach and no pressure to win can come in and shock everyone. The Magic made the playoffs two of the prior three years before tearing it down.
With all of this young promise, the future is going to be exceptional. And before too long, they will dominate.