Detroit Pistons 2015 NBA Draft Big Board

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Dec 13, 2014; Tucson, AZ, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Stanley Johnson (5) shoots the ball during the second half against the Michigan Wolverines at McKale Center. Arizona won 80-53. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Stanley Johnson, Arizona, SF, 6-7/245, Freshman

Stats: 27.7 MIN/G, 13.8 PPG, REB/G 6.4, AST/G 1.4 FG % 46.8 FG3 % 38.5 FT % 71.4

Johnson might be one of the biggest contender/pretender prospects in the class. At worst he’s Ron Artest (before he became Metta World Peace), a physical specimen with lock down defense. That sounds nice and is surely an asset a championship contender would salivate over, but what the Pistons, and anyone else picking in the top-5 want is a franchise player. Johnson absolutely has that talent, but he needs to improve his offensive game by leaps and bounds over the rest of the college basketball season to alleviate the concerns, G.M.s have over his jump shot and shot selection. For his physical gifts, he’s surprisingly struggled one on one offensively at times.

Based on what I’ve seen so far, Johnson’s above average handles, instincts, and ability to get to the rim indicate that he’s closer to a contender than a pretender in regards to a franchise player. Make no mistake, at least one team is going to take a chance on a potential transcendent small forward, and it could very well be the Pistons.

Disclaimer: I accumulated these stats before his monster game against Michigan when he scored 17-points on 8/10 shooting, with 7-rebounds, 3-assists, a block and a steal.

Next: 3. Karl-Anthony Towns The Best Stretch-Four In The Class?

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