Detroit Pistons set to host Michigan’s Walton and Irvin
By Duncan Smith
The Detroit Pistons will host a number of draft prospects this week, including Michigan’s Derrick Walton Jr. and Zak Irvin, among others.
Now that the NBA season’s competitive portion has come to an end, the Detroit Pistons go back to work hosting draft prospect mini-camps. A week after hosting both prospects and free agents (including former Michigan and Michigan State players), the Pistons have a packed four-day schedule at the practice facility in Auburn Hills starting Tuesday.
Among the invitees are Michigan’s Derrick Walton Jr. and Zak Irvin. While the Pistons won’t be using the 12th overall draft pick on either player, they may be in consideration as undrafted free agents after the draft if nobody selects them.
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Walton is the 24th ranked senior in this draft class per DraftExpress, and Irvin is lower at 54. There also remains the possibility that the Pistons acquire a second round draft pick via trade, in which case Walton, who stands at 6’0 and 185 lbs, might be a candidate.
The Pistons will also host likely first round prospects Tony Bradley, Jarrett Allen, Justin Patton and Louisville’s Donovan Mitchell. While fans will be interested in Walton and Irvin due to their local ties and the other players due to their first round possibilities, Mitchell remains perhaps the most intriguing prospect.
Per DraftExpress, Mitchell is the 11th ranked prospect and is their mock pick for the Pistons with the 12th pick. He’s a 6’3″ shooting guard with a tremendous 6’10” wingspan with a 40.5″ max vert.
As a sophomore he averaged 15.6 points per game and shot 35.4 percent from three-point range. His 80.6 percent rate from the free throw line is an indicator that he’ll likely be able to translate his reasonably acceptable perimeter shooting to the NBA level. His extraordinary length allows him to post a stellar steal rate of 3.7 percent which conveyed to 2.6 steals per 40 minutes last season.
Next: If the Pistons drafted today, who's your pick?
Mitchell is a raw prospect as a scorer, but he has great athleticism and defensive upside for a 20 year old.