I. Offense

Pluses

Exhibits desirable jump shot mechanics, already, at the age of 17: zero involvement of left (stabilizer), arrow-straight posture, uses a compact gathering motion; release speed is on the quicker end with an above-the-forehead hoist point (note: could benefit from a 1-1.5-inch raise if not sacrificing power)

Despite having a relatively ball-dominant approach, has exhibited comfort and familiarity with catch-and-shoot sequences: proper preparation, clean footwork, and fluid rhythm leading into the release

Active on the glass from early in sequences, great proactiveness and nose for the ball; capable of rebounding above the rim with put-backs

Passing acumen is remarkable given the stage of his young career. Displays professional-level degree of patience and understanding of usable angles and the time-slots he can utilize while making the right reads. Has exhibited the ability to hit the skip pass, thread the needle, hit the outlet downcourt, pass one-handed off the dribble, make hook-passes, make the drive-and-kick; can generate high velocity from a variety of situations and predicaments

Has shown some comfort operating in the post (note: FGAs mostly resulting in righty jump-hooks) with properly established position and the ability to spin over either shoulder

While he has not displayed a particularly versatile arsenal in the way of off-the-dribble moves as compared to players at his position, it is apparent that he is quite fluid in dribbling with both hands; have seen brief evidence of a lefty inside-out dribble and a left-to-right behind-the-back crossover

When slashing, uses body well to shield the ball from the defense (note: can over-commit to the FGA here while hard committing to staying right and forcing up a difficult hoist). Exhibits soft touch and a certain controlled recklessness involved in at-rim FGA’s—Cade’s finishing ability projects well for the next level(s)

Has exhibited some ability to decelerate to re-calibrate balance; will often flash hesitation dribbles when waiting to line up the timing with the rim runner

Has shown flashes of competently putting the defender “in jail” while penetrating into the paint

Scoring versatility hits on all three levels, with all projecting well for the next stage(s). Particularly comfortable with putting his head down and attacking into the paint

Minuses

Overly-reliant on the inside-out dribble in attempt to create space, particularly with his right hand; uses mini-hesitations to excess

Self-creation highly dependent on drives to the right side

Does not exhibit plus-level shake. His slashes often result in a positive, as do his P&Rs feeding into the lane, but he could use more dynamism with windmill crossovers, sharper changes of pace, up-and-unders, etc. in multi-move sequences. Would benefit from more horizontal movement in general

Could improve ball security when facing a pressuring defense, particularly when isolated near half court

Despite being a plus-level finisher with high levels of dribbling ambidexterity, may not have comfort in using his left at the rim

Questions to Consider

Is his offensive rhythm dictated too heavily by production on the offensive glass? As his contemporaries grow in both size and skill, this will become less of a go-to

What is his ceiling as an off-ball mover? Most of his high school film caps out at quick lead-ins to dribble hand-off action at the nail; FIBA U-19 offense did not call for a lot of movement

Habitually makes eye contact with the rim late in sequence during FT routine—worth monitoring?

Off-ball screen sample size extremely limited, but is he dedicated to establishing contact here?

Is he comfortable with pulling up off the dribble from the 3-point line and beyond?

Will he eventually be comfortable with making similarly high-level passes with his left? With scoring in from the nail and inward with his left?

II. Defense

Pluses

Despite being merely 17, Cunningham has demonstrated the ability to employ advanced-level defensive techniques dependent on awareness and positioning—verticality, drawn charges, situational wrap-arounds—all while making rotations well ahead of his peers

Impressive IQ—calls for scrambles, foresees developing action, bumps runners early, recognizes pressure release options and cuts them off proactively

When his man isn’t slashing, Cade can be very active with his hands and generate a high number of deflections

Unafraid to step up in the passing lanes and disrupt

Has plus-level strength and size for his position/archetype and with such, possesses decent versatility

Recognizes potential for top-down and come-from-behind blocks—alters a decent number of shots

Active and capable defensive rebounder

Minuses

Cade has shown inconsistent results in terms of on-ball capacity: while he has shown instances of heavy pressure combined with plus-level lateral speed, it is just as often that you’ll see awkward balance-distribution or clumsy footwork combined with fall-behind shadowing

Tends to forward-lean with his balance sitting near his toes, with too much bend at the waist

When isolated on the perimeter in a defensive stance, hands are often down by sides

Can get knocked off path and lose ground when battling ball-screens; not especially adept at foreseeing screens and nimbly navigating (a bit peculiar given his high IQ and awareness in most situations—could be a sign of pride)

Can get caught flat-footed or too far removed from the catch-and-shoot, often resulting in a non-influential contest

Ball-watching tendencies tend to surface periodically, leading to the start of a defensive breakdown

A bit over concerned with the prospect of a potential blocked shot—will forgo box-outs, potential swipe opportunities, or the assumption of proper positioning in lieu of increasing block chances

Questions to Consider

Can Cade improve his balance and posturing to better realize his potential as an on-ball defender?

Given his generally high IQ and attentiveness, are the ball-watching tendencies a sign of youth more than anything else?

Has Cade finished growing? If not, could a couple extra inches/pounds welcome the possibility for potential with guarding some 4’s?

III. Physical Profile & Miscellaneous

Compared to prospects of similar archetypes, he should land in the B- range athletically

Balance is a little rocky in select situations, particularly on defense

Plus-level wingspan, roughly half a foot longer than height—utilizes on both ends

Max vertical likely sits in the 33-34” range

Larger feet than expected for height range at 6’5.5”(?) without shoes, likely sitting around a shoe size of 15.0-15.5

Can palm the ball with relative ease. Has been seen palming mid-dribble to properly manipulate the ball preceding the pass/hoist

Relatively skinny, particularly in the arms, but should fill into shoulders a bit. Already plays bigger than his size

A bit heavy-footed from time to time—seen during initial steps in attack sequence, in lateral movement, and when rounding corners

Physical profile doesn’t jump off the screen in any one particular way—muscle mass, length, quick-twitch, coordination—but his overall package of physical tools is very solid

Is not afraid to get down on the floor; willing to put his body on the line in more than one regard

Clearly has no issue with assuming a leadership role—enjoys seeing his teammates thrive, picks up their spirits accordingly

Motor not possible to fully assess until he assumes a heavier off-ball role dependent on constant movement, but current signs point to a positive on both ends

IV. Archetypal Diagnosis

Offense: Lead Ball-handler-Plus

Defense: Wing Defender-Plus

V. Gradient Score vs. Same-Archetype Prospects

VI. Overall Outlook

Cade Cunningham has a relatively high “floor” as a product of his intelligence and physical tools alone. Skill development in the way of advanced ball-handling and near-perfect shot mechanics add lots of equity, as does his pass-first mindset and clearly apparent leadership qualities. As of July 2019, he has a bit to improve defensively– the shot percentages also need to better represent his touch–but Cade will certainly round out as a top-tier prospect in the (currently) 2021 draft. Teams looking for a ball-dominant presence should consider him without hesitation.