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3-on-3: NBA Draft decisions for the Pistons

By Brady Fredricksen

March 13, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Stanley Johnson (5, right) drives to the basket against UCLA Bruins forward Kevon Looney (5) during the first half in the semifinal round of the Pac-12 Conference tournament at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
March 13, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Stanley Johnson (5, right) drives to the basket against UCLA Bruins forward Kevon Looney (5) during the first half in the semifinal round of the Pac-12 Conference tournament at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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1. We’re finally here. Another year, another lottery appearance by the Pistons. But unlike the real games, Detroit has actually had a pretty successful run of lottery picks. Say you’re Stan Van Gundy at 8 p.m. — which player are you planning on taking at No. 8?

Dan Feldman: I’m planning on taking Mario Hezonja — who’s No. 8 on my board. That way, I’m pleasantly surprised if someone I rank higher falls. At least that’s what I’m talking myself into. Really, I’m figuring I walk away with Stanley Johnson, who’s No. 7 on my board but more likely to be available.

Tim Thielke: The most likely answer is Stanley Johnson. I doubt he’s off the board before the Pistons’ pick. But he’s 8th on my draft board, so literally any of the first 7 teams deviating from who I consider to be the top seven guys in the draft would make me go another way. And I’d peg the odds of that happening at well over 50 percent.

Braden Shackelford: Justise Winslow. He’s an excellent defender and gives consistent effort every minute he plays. I think he’d play well on both sides of the ball with what the Pistons currently have on the roster.

2. Conversely, which of the projected prospects that will be around at No. 8 scares the hell out of you the most?

Dan Feldman: Mario Hezonja. I like his talent, but his confidence/cockiness/arrogance is so entrenched in everything about him. It could carry him to stardom or make him completely insufferable and inefficient. (If I’m not Van Gundy in this scenario, I’m scared of Chad Ford’s belief the Pistons really want Sam Dekker. I like Dekker just fine, but No. 8 is too high for him.)

Tim Thielke: Johnson again. What if he’s just another KCP? A 3-and-D guy who’s merely adequate at both halves of that job description? Odds are good that someone drafted in the 9-14 range (Booker, Kaminsky, Cauley-Stein, Turner, Payne, Grant, Dekker, and Oubre are all good candidates to be among those picks) will become a star, Passing on whoever that is for Johnson could rapidly look inane even though if the Pistons did pass on Johnson for one of those guys, they’d most likely grab the wrong one.

Braden Shackelford: According to Chad Ford, Sam Dekker is in the mix — that scares the hell out of me. Aside from a decent NCAA Tournament, his four years at Wisconsin didn’t impress me as much as the younger options at small forward who are likely to be available like Stanley Johnson.

3. It is vital that the Pistons come out of this year’s draft with ______?

Dan Feldman: An improved outlook. I can be patient. Don’t reach for need, and the rest will take care of itself. If the Pistons leave the draft with a ready-to-go roster, great. If trades are required to balance it, that’s OK, too.

Tim Thielke: Somebody who at least has a shot at being the third best player on a 50-win team in a couple years assuming Jackson and Drummond are both all-stars. Those two are liable to get max deals this summer and next respectively. If they can live up to those, this may be the best pick the Pistons have for a while. If they can’t, Detroit should be offloading them ASAP.

Braden Shackelford: A small forward, preferably Winslow or Hezonja — even if it means trying to trade up. I’d be happy with Johnson and I actually think he’s going to be a better pro than most, but the upside of the first two forwards mentioned are just too great to miss out on. I guess it’s possible that a top talent falls like Emmanuel Mudiay or Willie Cauley-Stein, but I doubt they do. It’s more likely that the best talent available is a small forward.

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