In the first round of the latest mock from Draft Express and ESPN, the Detroit Pistons select Chandler Hutchison, a senior small forward from Boise State University.
In the morning following a tough loss against the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night, Draft Express and ESPN gifted Detroit Pistons fans with their latest two-round mock draft.
With the 16th pick the mock selected Chandler Hutchison, a small forward from Boise State, for the Detroit Pistons.
From ESPN:
"The Pistons have been cycling through small forward options all season and haven’t gotten great production from that position.Hutchison has made significant strides with his game as a senior. He looks primed to take advantage of the lack of wing depth in the draft, and the NBA in general, this June. He has outstanding physical tools and is a much improved ball handler and perimeter shooter."
This season, the Detroit Pistons have struggled to find depth at the wing position.
In what has become somewhat of a premium in the league, both the small forward and power forward positions on the Pistons are filled with hybrid players (i.e. Reggie Bullock, Tobias Harris).
The Pistons felt this pinch when Stanley Johnson was out with a hip flexor injury.
Coming in a senior, Hutchison would be less of a project (like Henry Ellenson) and more of a polished player. However, he might have less room to grow than a younger college athlete.
Take a look at highlights of his 44 point effort against San Diego State last week.
With the 46th pick the mock selected Amine Noua, a power forward from France playing for Villeurbanne.
From Draft Express,
"At 6’8, 220 Noua is a strong and stocky power forward, who knows how to use his size to his advantage. Noua finished second in the tournament in offensive rebounds at 4.3 per game. Although he is not the most explosive athlete, he is a quick jumper who crashes the offensive glass hard looking for tip ins and easy put backs.Depsite his stocky frame, Noua is quick and mobile, has good body control, and showed the ability to score out of the post with a variety of impressive moves. He has a good feel for the game, and knows where to be off the ball and when to duck in for dump off passes.He’ll need to show some development in terms of a perimeter game to compliment his effective interior play. Noua competes on the defensive end of the floor, and although he is somewhat undersized, he showed some impact as a rim protector."
Although Draft Express pointed out that Noua needed to show development in his perimeter game, he still is shooting 36.1 percent from beyond the arc with a decent shooting stroke. He also isn’t shy about letting it fly from beyond the arc either.
Noua would slide into the Pistons’ rotation effortlessly as a much-needed rim protector on the second unit and would be fun to watch with Ish Smith running the floor in transition.
Noua showcased his skills at the U20 FIBA EuroCup last year in July. Below are his highlights: