Draft Consensus: Pistons picks send a message about the values the team wants
The Pistons added three new players last night, and considering the draft could be the last bit of NBA news we have to discuss for a while, considering a lockout now seems unavoidable, we’ll keep it rolling with some reaction from all over the place to Detroit’s picks.
Matt Watson, Detroit Bad Boys:
"Based on the team’s current roster, yet another guard seems like overkill. But remember, for the first time in two years, Dumars is free to shake up the roster — and if we’re really being honest, very few members of the current roster will be around the next time this team goes deep into the playoffs. At this stage of the rebuilding game, you draft talent and fit pieces around it, not the other way around."
A Sea of Blue (UK basketball blog):
"Brandon Knight slipped a bit. He was projected to go at #5 to Toronto, but Tristan Thompson’s unexpected pick at #4 by Cleveland threw the top ten into disarray. Knight was eventually picked at #8 by the Detroit Pistons, and assuming Tayshaun Prince re-signs with Detroit, UK fans may have a new favorite team."
"It’s no secret the Pistons weren’t the most cohesive group last season. A significant portion of the roster clashed with coach John Kuester, often publicly.Tom Gores, Joe Dumars and the rest of the front office, made a statement with these draft picks, that the culture from last season won’t be tolerated any longer."
"I’m satisfied with the selection if Detroit is stuck with Knight. I think he can step in, in year 2 and make an impact. Knight is the youngest players in the NBA Draft, and I think as his 1st season goes on he is the type of intelligent basketball player who could take what he’s learned off the court and apply it to his trade on the court."
"Again, Singler doesn’t do much of anything particularly well. That’s not a knock against him. The stat heads are obviously freaking out about this pick, because Singler does not offer much upside in comparison to the other players that are remaining on the board. Singler is the type of player that helps the players around him by simply doing what he does best, hustling and playing smart basketball."
"Macklin is a “lunch pail” guy. I remember watching Macklin play at Georgetown with Hibbert and current Piston DaJuan Summers. I can’t see him sticking with the team out of training camp, but he’s definitely a candidate for the D League and I think he could almost find instant success there."
"Adding Brandon Knight, who many view as a combo guard, certainly doesn’t seem to help. If there is a silver lining, however, it is that this move might finally put an end to the Rodney Stuckey as starting point guard experiment. Stuckey has never seemed comfortable as a point guard and seemed to flourish any time he was allowed to play off the ball. But there is just no way that the team goes into training camp with all five of these guards on the roster."
Trey Kerby, The Basketball Jones, nicknaming every draft pick:
"8. “Mr. Cum Laude” Brandon Knight33. Kyle “Sweathead” Singler52. “Cracklin’” Vernon Macklin"
Vince Ellis, Detroit Free Press:
"Knight wowed #Pistons at the predraft camp interview. Expected to be a character guy. But expect moves in crowded backcourt – not Knight."
Vince Ellis, Detroit Free Press:
"He already has shown a knack for knocking down big shots. In leading the Wildcats to the Final Four last season, Knight hit two game-winning shots and also put up 30 points in a regional final victory over West Virginia."
"Great pick up, I like the pickWelcome to Detroit young fellow @BrandonKnight12. Get your mind right and let’s get this. The city of the Detroit will welcome & support you"
"All the ppl who r already coming up with the Daye-N-Knight thing r funny I’ve got at least 10 of those !!!"
"His free fall out of the top three of the draft cost him plenty of greenbacks. Plus, he now joins the most dysfunctional team in the NBA, the Detroit Pistons. Not exactly the greatest position for a young, raw player to get his feet wet."
Pat Caputo, The Oakland Press:
"He was a similar recruit to Kentucky. A legitimate 5-star talent. It wouldn’t surprise me if he is a better NBA player than Kyrie Irving, the first overall selection by Cleveland. The two will play against each a lot in the same division."
Vincent Goodwill, The Detroit News:
"Dumars said the Pistons view him as a point guard and will put the ball in his hands. With Rodney Stuckey (restricted free agent), Richard Hamilton and Ben Gordon still in the fold, Knight adds to an already-stacked spot."
Vincent Goodwill, The Detroit News:
"With small forwards Tayshaun Prince, Tracy McGrady and DaJuan Summers approaching free agency, Austin Daye is the only small forward under contract for next season.Jonas Jerebko is a restricted free agent.“That was a contributing factor, obviously,” Perry said. “When we went into this draft, we talked about adding some size and adding a guard and a wing player. We accomplished two of those goals.”"
Bob Wojnowski, The Detroit News:
"The kid wants the ball. If you watched him at Kentucky, he demands the ball. To take the Billups comparison even farther, Knight also is bright with an apparent chip on his shoulder, expanded a bit by his drop from the draft’s top five.Slights always drove Billups. Knight admitted he was disappointed to slide, but was glad to be coming to Detroit."
"The Pistons selected three players — Brandon Knight, Kyle Singler, and Vernon Macklin – who were described as “good kids”. Unfortunately when each actually played college basketball in 2010-11, all three managed to post Win Score numbers that were below average for their position. In fact, as noted below, each posted numbers that were far below average. And although college numbers do not predict future NBA numbers perfectly, when a player doesn’t actually play basketball well in the past, we tend to wonder if he will play basketball much better in the future."