2019 Detroit Pistons Draft Prospects: Oregon center Bol Bol

The Detroit Pistons are in the market for a backup center. So, who better to fill that void than the freakishly talented son of a former NBA standout?

The Detroit Pistons hold the 15th and 45th picks in the 2019 NBA Draft. Oregon’s Bol Bol could be available for either or neither of those picks.

The case of Bol Bol is a curious one.

His combination of size and skill gives him the greatest upside of any pick outside of Zion Williamson in this upcoming draft.

However, his size, injury history, and family history make him too polarizing a pick for several teams to risk his incredibly low floor.

Unguarda-Bol

At his best and healthiest, Bol Bol is a huge problem for opposing defenses.

At a whopping 7’2.5, Bol towers over nearly anyone he faces. He would come up short against only the likes of Boban Marjanovic and Kristaps Porzingis in the NBA who both stand at 7’3.

Bol’s size is only matched by his impressive, guard-like skill with the basketball. He averaged 21 points, 9.6 rebounds, and one assist in nine games of action at Oregon.

The competition was not all that impressive at the beginning of the Ducks’ schedule, but Bol shined all the same.

His coordination and handle are comparable to that of any of the league’s skilled big men. There is room to improve, but few can do what he does off the dribble.

Before ending his season early due to injury, Bol showed his potential with a career-high 32 points against Texas Southern.

He went 4-for-6 from three-point range in that loss.

Bol shot 52 percent from three on 2.8 attempts per game at Oregon. Imagine that kind of shooting from an NBA center with the handle Bol has. That is what teams will be tempted with June 20.

Bol Family-Sized Risk

Bol Bol is the son of former NBA player Manute Bol. He takes after his father in size, but with far more upside offensive upside and a much lower defensive floor.

Manute stood a historic 7’7 during his 10 seasons (one only lasting a few games) in the league. He made a career as a legendary shot-blocker — averaging 3.3 blocks per game.

Manute averaged more blocks that points by the end of his career.

Plagued by injury and a limited game due to his aging frame, Manute found himself out of the NBA in 1995.

Manute’s son follows in his footsteps as far as size and frame — and teams are right to be worried about the risk of injury for a body like his.

Bol Bol only played nine games at Oregon due to a stress fracture to the navicular bone in his left foot. The history of big men with foot injuries — especially those with his size and body type — does not bode well for Bol.

The Line Between All-Time and Unplayable

(Spoiler Alert: The line is thin)

Bol Bol — unlike his father — is not much of a threat on the defensive end.

Bol can obviously use his amazing height and 7’7 wingspan to simply put his arms in the way of shots and passing lanes.

However, Bol does not move well on defense despite the relative nimbleness he shows on offense. Pistons fans remember the lack of mobility Marjanovic showed during his time in Detroit.

The difference between Bol and Marjanovic is one inch and a whopping 83 pounds that helps the latter use brute force in the paint the former will not have at his current size.

Not only is Bol at risk for career-threatening injury, but he could be easily played off the floor on defense. A team picking early in the first round — even the Pistons in the middle at No. 15 — would be taking an incredible risk in drafting him.

Bol will likely be taken late in the first round, and it would take immense confidence in his health and offensive game for the Pistons to take him.