Continuing the team draft profile series, Tyler Moorman (@TmoormanNBA) joins me to break down the Pistons’ draft night preview:
Picks Held: 7
Team Needs: PG, interior defense, wing, stretch big, P&R defense
Timeline:
- Likely entering a rebuild, but need to evaluate Blake Griffin’s future with the team
- Traded Andre Drummond at the trade deadline
- Christian Wood is likely to depart in free agency
- First year of a new front office- could clean slate or commit to the current core
Current players under contract for next season:
Guards: Derrick Rose, Luke Kennard, Khyri Thomas
Wings: Sekou Doumboya, Dzanan Musa
Bigs: Blake Griffin
Options: Svi Mykhailiuk (team), Tony Snell (player)
Upcoming FA: Jordan Bone (RFA), Louis King (RFA), Christian Wood, Thon Maker (RFA), Brandon Knight, John Henson, Langston Galloway, Justin Patton (RFA)
Past 5 drafts:
2015: Stanley Johnson, Darrun Hilliard
2016: Henry Ellenson, Michael Gbinije
2017: Luke Kennard
2018: Bruce Brown
2019: Sekou Doumboya, Jordan Bone, Deividas Syrvidas
#7 Big board:
Tyler:
- Killian Hayes
- Lamelo Ball
- Patrick Williams
- Oneyka Okongwu
- Kira Lewis Jr
- Tyrese Haliburton
- Devin Vassell
- Deni Avdija
- Isaac Okoro
- Tyrell Terry
- James Wiseman
- Obi Toppin
- Cole Anthony
- Tyrese Maxey
- Aaron Nesmith
MavsDraft:
- Killian Hayes
- LaMelo Ball
- Onyeka Okongwu
- Deni Avdija
- Cole Anthony
- Isaac Okoro
- James Wiseman
- Kira Lewis Jr
- Patrick Williams
- Devin Vassell
- Saddiq Bey
- Obi Toppin
- RJ Hampton
- Aleksej Pokusevski
- Grant Riller
Other options:
The Pistons have been one of the most talked about teams in the drafts leadup when it comes to movement in draft position. Talks of Lamelo Ball falling down the boards possibly were quickly followed up by the Pistons in a trio of teams that were thought to be considering moving up to get him. In my opinion the Pistons are in such needs of assets that if they do any kind of moving it should be trading down to gain draft capital, a common idea that has been floating around is a trade with Boston for their three first round picks which are 14th, 26th, 30th.