The Detroit Pistons Need To Make The Most Of Their Draft Capital

The Detroit Pistons did not have a successful season from the perspective of wins and losses. The team finished 23-59, second-to-last in the Eastern Conference, and third-to-last in the entire league.

However, that doesn’t mean their season wasn’t a success. Rookie phenom Cade Cunningham showed enough promise to warrant optimism about his future ability to carry the franchise, and second-year man Saddiq Bey proved to be a piece the Pistons would want to have attached to Cunningham for many years to come.

Now the next step of Detroit’s rebuilding process begins. They not only have to identify which top-tier rookie they want (they’re projected to select third overall in this year’s draft), but they also need to carve out an identity moving forward, which in part happens by bringing in the right rookies in June.

The big three

Assuming the Pistons stay with the third pick in the draft, Detroit will select third and 46th. Naturally, the third selection carries the utmost importance, but it’s additionally crucial they get a solid piece in the second round. In today’s league, second-round rookies have become nothing to sneeze at, given how franchises frequently find steals later in the draft. Just last year, the Chicago Bulls found Ayo Dosunmu at 38th who became an integral part of team in his debut season.

Let’s start off by looking at their first round pick, however. Three big men are expected to compete for the top selection, leaving the remaining two for the following two slots.

Chet Holmgren

From Gonzaga, Holmgren is the high-upside selection, and arguably the most fascinating prospect to hit the league in years. At seven feet, but weighing in just 195 pounds, Holmgren is a physical oddity, but his lack of weight has nothing to prevent him from producing. In 32 games this season, Holmgren averaged 14.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, 3.7 blocks and 1.9 assists in just 26.9 minutes of playing time. On a per-minute basis, that’s top-level statistical production, especially for a college freshman who will be just 20 years old by draft time.

Additionally intriguing is the fact that the 7-footer canned 41 three-pointers at 39% efficiency, and has shown capabilities as a ball-handler and play initiator. While his 1.9 assists per game may not stand out as special, there’s no question that he has a knack for passing the ball, and the added spacing at the next level will only open that up more.

In short, if Holmgren is able to transfer all of his talents from the NCAA to the NBA, he’ll have virtually no statistical weaknesses, and would make for one of the most fun all-around centers in the league for years to come.

So why isn’t he considered a full-on lock for the number one spot? Because if some of those talents do not translate to the professional ranks, and his body doesn’t add considerable strength, that would turn him from a potential generational talent to a jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none player, which lowers his ceiling. There is a risk he simply doesn’t break through, and the upside is wasted. While that pessimism may be overstated, it’s a consideration teams need to have.

(All that said, Holmgren does appear likely to get selected first. That upside is too enticing not to take a swing on.)

Holmgren would hands-down be the most talented big to pair with Cunningham, as he could work as a tremendous screen option who can both roll and pop, but also make secondary plays with the ball in his hands. Defensively, in a few years, teams would actively try to avoid both him and Cunningham in pick and roll action, as they project to be able to blow up plenty of them moving forward.

Paolo Banchero

The Duke forward is probably the most polished of the three, and should be ready to play the moment he steps onto an NBA court. He has a knack for putting the ball in the basket (17.2 points), is an active rebounder (7.8), and has a fairly nice passing component (3.2 assists) to go with those skills. He’s also not afraid to launch from the outside (1.1 made three-pointers per game at 33.8%), and he got to the line 4.8 times per game.

From the point of being productive, Banchero will be involved in many plays right off-the-bat, as he projects to become a type of Julius Randle/Michael Beasley/Zach Randolph hybrid, only right-handed. He should have a fairly straightforward path to a 12-to-15 year NBA career based off of his ability to put up numbers, and he should be fairly easy to implement due to his diverse skill set, especially as he improves in certain areas as he ages.

Banchero, 19, is considered a safe pick, which can be attractive to teams who need some level of certainty going into the draft. Whether the Pistons fit that description needs to be seen, but there is merit in taking him, as to pair someone they know will be productive with Cunningham.

It’s clear, though, that Banchero isn’t Holmgren and will have a substantially less impactful career, if the latter is able to bring all of his skills to the next level. If both guys develop into fully optimized versions of themselves, Banchero will be considered a nice consolation prize.

Jabari Smith

The Auburn star is another safe pick, but for different reasons than those of Banchero’s. Smith is more of a finesse player, who relies on three-point shooting and pull-up jumpers to mark his path.

His 42% from the behind the arc, at no less than 5.5 nightly attempts, immediately makes him the most intriguing pick-and-pop options in the draft. However, Smith is more than just a shooter. While he isn’t as physical as Banchero, he isn’t shy from rolling to the rim off of screens, letting his 6’10 frame become a passing target over the rim or in the dunker’s spot. Smith’s offensive potential is substantial, and he could very well turn into the best pure scorer of the three. He also converted on 79.9% of his 4.8 nightly free throws, suggesting he could become a rare big man who sports high-volume three-point and free throw shooting, not entirely dissimilar to former NBA forward Nikola Mirotic.

Defensively, Smith stands between Holmgren and Banchero. His 7’2 wingspan blocks and changes shots, and his nimble footwork allows him to quickly get in proper position near the rim. Whether his 220-pound frame allows him to be as impactful at the NBA level remains to be seen, but it’s worth noting Smith isn’t a finished product physically. It appears his frame will allow for more weight, without necessarily relinquishing his agility.

Smith would give Cunningham some much-needed scoring assistance, and give him a highly versatile scoring big, who Cunningham can use in a wide variety of ways. Screen and roll action between the two will constantly have defenses guessing, and should Smith improve his low-post game at the next level, it’s fair to project him as the optimal scoring partner for Detroit’s rookie sensation.

Finding a gem in the second round

As outlined previously, the second round usually includes a few sleepers that slip for a variety of reasons. Sometimes, guys even projected to go outside the draft are worth giving a look.

One name of intrigue is Collin Gillespie.

Gillespie is a five-year Villanova guard, who’ll be 23 by draft day. Over the past three seasons he’s come into his own, netting 15.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.9 assists over that period. He won’t have that on-ball freedom at the NBA level, but his 38.8% from long range, on 6.5 attempts nightly – including 41.5% on 7.2 attempts this season – is useful in NBA context.

Gillespie, who stands 6’3 and can play both guard spots, would be used primarily as an off-ball threat next to Cunningham, as a sort of release valve. Detroit ranked 29th in three-point efficiency this season at 32.6%, so adding high-volume shooters, who can penalize defenses for overcommitting to Cunningham, is crucial.

With uncertainty looming over exactly what type of NBA player Killian Hayes will become, Gillespie would add an alternative option in moments of need, in particular when three-point shooting is lacking.