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Detroit Pistons 2020 NBA Draft profile: Oregon’s Payton Pritchard

By Ari Eizen

EUGENE, OREGON - MARCH 07: Payton Pritchard #3 of the Oregon Ducks encourages the crowd during the second half against the Stanford Cardinal at Matthew Knight Arena on March 07, 2020 in Eugene, Oregon. Oregon won 80-67. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OREGON - MARCH 07: Payton Pritchard #3 of the Oregon Ducks encourages the crowd during the second half against the Stanford Cardinal at Matthew Knight Arena on March 07, 2020 in Eugene, Oregon. Oregon won 80-67. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /
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Payton Pritchard #3 of the Oregon Ducks (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
Payton Pritchard #3 of the Oregon Ducks (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /

Payton Pritchard has been one of the top college basketball players over the past year, should the Detroit Pistons consider drafting him this year?

The 2019-2020 NBA season did not go well for the Detroit Pistons and their fans. The Pistons began the season with playoff aspirations with Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond leading the charge for Dwane Casey’s squad.

However, after Blake Griffin’s knee injury from last season resurfaced, he underwent season-ending surgery on that knee, causing Detroit’s playoff hopes to essentially vanish. Eventually, Luke Kennard hurt his knee and the Pistons opted to trade Drummond to the Cleveland Cavaliers at the NBA trade deadline in February.

While the NBA season is still on an indefinite hiatus, there are hopes of a mid-May return to play, per Dallas Mavericks’s owner Mark Cuban.

Related Story. 2020 NBA Draft profile: LaMelo Ball. light

Even if there is a second and concluding half of the season, things will not change much, if at all, for the Detroit Pistons.

The Pistons are now in the midst of a full rebuild, with Christian Wood, Sekou Doumbouya, and Kennard as key players to build around. On top of those core players, Svi Mykhailuk and Bruce Brown have proven to be players who can help from the bench.

When the last NBA game was played, the Pistons held the record at 20-46, which landed them with the 5th best odds at winning the NBA draft lottery and landing the 1st overall draft pick come whenever the NBA draft will be occurring.

Related Story. 2020 NBA Draft profile: Obi Toppin. light

While the top of the draft does have some players who can make an immediate impact for the Pistons, such as LaMelo Ball, Deni Avdija, and Obi Toppin, the second round can be a place where the Pistons can find a hidden gem in the draft.

Oregon Senior guard Payton Pritchard is a player who can be that missing piece in the Pistons backcourt. Prichard was the first player in Pac-12 history to have 1,900 career points, 500 career rebounds, and 600 career assists.

The PAC-12 Player of the Year and Naismith Player of the Year finalist is a player that GM Ed Stefanski should look at in the second round. (If the Pistons acquire a second round pick)

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