The Detroit Pistons selected Luke Kennard in the 2017 NBA draft. But would it do so again if given the opportunity to re-draft? Chris Johnson and Jeremy Woo of SI.com take a look back at the 2017 NBA draft and what teams would do if they could re-draft today. Hint: The Pistons do not draft Luke Kennard.
The Detroit Pistons, many feel, botched the 2017 NBA draft. The team passed up on rookie sensation Donovan Mitchell in favor of Luke Kennard, who has struggled to find minutes in the Pistons’ rotation.
Meanwhile, Mitchell, who most were clamoring for the Pistons at the time, is averaging 17.9 points per game, 3.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and shooting 43.5% from the floor and and 35.7% from three for the Utah Jazz.
Hopefully the disparity between the two players closes as their careers progress, but for now, the Pistons clearly made the wrong pick.
But don’t feel too bad Pistons’ fans. Most teams that passed on Mitchell are probably questioning whether they made the right pick.
In fact, in Chris Johnson and Jeremy Woo’s piece on SI.com (who are re-drafting the 2017 NBA draft based on what we know today), Mitchell is going second overall to the Los Angeles Lakers.
The exercise is ultimately all fun considering it’s WAY TOO EARLY to judge this draft class, but it’s an interesting discussion to say the least.
What’s even more interesting, as it pertains to the Pistons, is whether the team would still draft Luke Kennard today, with Mitchell of the board.
According to Johnson and Woo, the pick would be different:
"Pre-draft questions about John Collins’s positional fit and defensive shortcomings have been put to rest by his sheer production. No qualifying rookie is rebounding more on a per-possession basis, and only one, Golden State’s Jordan Bell (more on him below), has converted a higher percentage of his shot attempts.It would require an unexpectedly rapid ascent from the East cellar to prevent Collins from spending the next couple of years, at minimum, treading water out of the national spotlight, but Atlanta’s lack of urgency to push for a playoff spot should free up coach Mike Budenholzer to let Collins play through his mistakes while he smooths off some of the rougher edges of his skill set. In the process, he’ll give East frontcourts fits with his activity on the glass and reliable interior finishing while giving Smith a run for his money as the most entertaining dunker in this class. Collins’s fit into the Hawks’ future plans is difficult to discern, in large part because this roster feels stocked with short-term rentals who won’t be around the next time they’re playing meaningful spring basketball. Collins looks like a keeper, though"
I can tell you based off of both players stats that Collins would be the better pick for the Pistons.
But in terms of fit, need, situation, and long-term development?
I think I would still take Kennard, though in fairness I have only seen a handful of games from Collins.
Next: Where are the Detroit Pistons going?
What do you think Pistons’ fans?