The NBA Draft Lottery was last night, and once again the Pistons got no love. The most that can be said is at least they didn't get bumped down in the draft, but once again the Pistons are picking in the 8th spot. Since they took Austin Daye with the 15th pick in the 2009 draft, the Pistons have picked between 7 - 9 every year since. Last year they would've picked 9th, had they not traded that pick to Charlotte for the priviledge of getting rid of Ben Gordon a year early. That's an incredible run of mediocrity. BAD mediocrity, not that close-but-no-cigar variety that makes the playoffs as an 8 seed once every 3 years.
Despite this frustrating run of crappiness, the Pistons have never bottomed out for a top 3 pick. They've lucked out twice in the draft, getting Monroe (arguably the 4th best player in his draft) at #7 in 2010, and then Drummond (easily the 3rd best player in HIS draft) at #9 in 2012. They also ran into some bad luck/bad evaluating when they took Brandon Knight with the 8th pick in 2011 (Klay Thompson, Kawhi Leonard, Jimmy Butler, et al, went later), with KCP in 2013 (Giannis, Dennis Schroder, et al.), and of course when they were leapfrogged last year by Cleveland, causing the Pistons to drop a spot in the draft and lose their pick. They're due for a bit of good luck this time around, and I have hopes that SVG will be a better drafter than Dumars was.
Chad Ford has a mock draft that I find both believable and encouraging, but before I get to that, I'd like to go over the Pistons' position and options. First, Detroit's most glaring need is at SF. They haven't had a decent one since Tayshaun Prince lost his legs, and they haven't had a GOOD one since... I guess Stackhouse, if you want to call him a SF (Grant Hill, if you don't). Second, the Pistons are likely going to need a PF, as I expect Greg Monroe will take his talents elsewhere next year. Put those 2 positions as needs 1a and 1b. With Brandon Jennings possibly out for a good chunk of the 2015-'16 season (I think he'll be back ahead of schedule, but not at 100%) and Reggie Jackson going into this summer as a restricted free agent, PG is possibly also a need. Put it as a DISTANT 2nd. They could also use depth at C, but that's something you do in round 2.
I kind of did this draft preview thing a month ago, but the NBA Combine happened, as did the lottery. Sorry if I go over some of the same material. I'll try to use different clips...
#1 on the Wish List
Justise Winslow, SF - Duke
Ht: 6'6", Wt: 222#, Reach: 8'9", Wingspan: 6'10"
College Stats: 12.6 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.1 apg, .485 FG% - .414 3P% - .641 FT%
Winslow is a tad undersized to play SF in the NBA, but his reach and athleticism make up for it. More than that, he plays like a beast on the court, which makes up for any size deficiencies he may have. He's a ferocious defender, he can make you pay from outside, and the rest of his offensive game is filling in. Most GMs consider him the #1 SF in the draft, so he'll probably be gone before the Pistons pick, but stranger things have happened.
#2 on the Wish List
Mario Hezonja, SF Barcelona
Ht: 6'8", Wt: 200#, Reach: N/A, Wingspan: N/A
ACB League Stats: 4.7 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 1.3 apg, .467 FG% - .392 3P% - .833 FT%per 36min stats: 11.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 3.2 apg
Hezonja might end up a better player than Winslow. He's bigger, also athletic, he's got a prettier looking shot, and he played in a MUCH tougher league (Spain's ACB is as close to NBA-level as any league gets). On the flip, he didn't get a lot of time on the court, he wasn't especially consistent in his production, and there are some concerns about his effort on defense and his selfishness/decision making. I think he could be a Manu Ginobili-type player, if he can take the coaching.
#3 on the Wish List
Kristaps Porzingis, PF Seville
Ht: 7'0", Wt: 220#, Reach: N/A, Wingspan: N/A
ACB League Stats: 10.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 1.1 bpg, .4717 FG% - .316 3P% - .780 FT%
Porzingis played in the same league Hezonja did, only he played on a worse team and got more burn. The automatic comparison to make is with Dirk Nowitzki. Both are 7 ft, European stretch-4s who can also put the ball on the deck and attack. While his ACB 3P% isn't especially great, he reigned terror from on high in the 16 Eurocup games he played in (.459 3P%) and his stroke looks efficient. The main concern with him is toughness. Porzingis needs to add some bulk, and he might take a minute to adjust to the speed and physicality of the NBA game.
Not Really on My Wish List, but...
Stanley Johnson, SF Arizona
Ht: 6'7", Wt: 242#, Reach: 8'6", Wingspan: 6'11"
College Stats: 13.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1.7 apg, .446 FG% - .371 3P% - .742 FT%
Johnson would be the consolation prize if the 3 players above were all taken before the Pistons step to the podium on June 25th. He actually reminds me of a more muscular and tenacious version of KCP. While this wouldn't be a BAD thing, it doesn't really sizzle either. Johnson's rep coming out of HS was as an athletic beast without much of a jump shot. The jump shot showed up in college, the athleticism was more limited. I think Johnson's ceiling is that of an above-average NBA starter, and his floor is that of a quality role player.
That's basically it. I can almost guarantee the Pistons will take one of these guys, provided they don't trade their pick. Chad Ford thinks the Pistons will end up taking Mario Hezonja, under the following scenario:
1. Karl-Anthony Towns to Minnesota
2. Jahlil Okafor to LA Lakers
3. D'Angelo Russell to Philadelphia
4. Emanuel Mudiay to New York Knicks
5. Kristaps Porzingis to Orlando
6. Willie Cauley-Stein to Sacramento
7. Justise Winslow to Denver
8. Mario Hezonja to Detroit
The wild cards there are Orlando and Sacramento. Either team might take Winslow, or even the Knicks might take him (although most think Mudiay is a lock to go to NY). What I've seen of Hezonja looks pretty good, so I'm hoping both Prozingis and Cauley-Stein get picked up before the Pistons draft. That would all but ensure either Winslow or Hezonja. I'll check in as updates warrant, but this is probably the last Pistons post until June 25th. Peace!
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