Heading into the upcoming draft, the Detroit Pistons will have a few options to look at with point guards. Tyrese Haliburton should be their pick.
It’s difficult to say where the Detroit Pistons are going to make their pick in the upcoming draft, given that they don’t necessarily have a set direction. In an ideal world however, they’ll select within the top ten which would put them in the running to select Tyrese Haliburton, the 6-foot-5 point guard from Iowa State.
In what’s so far shaping up to be a relatively underwhelming draft class, Haliburton stands out. He’s currently a freshman and in most mock drafts is projected to go within the top 8 picks. He’s currently averaging 17.7 points per game along with 7.9 assists and 6.3 rebounds on 52.6% shooting including 42.5% from three-point range.
No matter where they select in this draft, the Pistons are more than likely going to select a point guard. Haliburton has slightly unorthodox mechanics on his jump shot, but for the most part it’s effective. He’s a big guard with a high release point which for the most players can be difficult to defend.
He’s not afraid to let it fly from way beyond the perimeter, which combined with his high arcing jump shot can prove to be lethal. Defenders have a difficult time closing out on him.
He often stands along the perimeter and is just used as a vessel to get the ball to the rim, which is an area where he excels at. His passing vision – especially for his size – is exceptional and he has a remarkable ability to make a decision with the basketball seconds before that decision becomes available to him.
When he’s standing along the perimeter (which again, he does a lot unless he plans on driving to the basket himself) it’s mainly just to execute ball reversals which gets his teammates involved. He’s quick and accurate with his passes in transition as well. With the ball in his hands, he’s able to create his own shot and get to the rim with speed.
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He doesn’t have an elite first step, but it’s certainly enough to get excited about.
He’s a pesky defender who maintains active hands (averaging 2.6 steals per game) which can cause a great deal of commotion in transition when you factor in his aforementioned passing abilities. He certainly doesn’t struggle with verticality on defense either – he can go up an block a shot if he needs to.
He tends to gamble on defense often enough that it’s noticeable, but overall it won’t hinder his ability to effectively play in the NBA.
Haliburton does a commendable job getting his teammates involved, something that any NBA organization is going to look for not just in a point guard – but in any potential prospect.
At the end of the day, he’s a tall “pass first” guard – the value of such a player is increasingly higher as we move through the years. He’s begun to find a comfortable balance of both shooting and passing, as he recorded his first triple double of the season against TCU. He’s a serviceable rebounder and is able to defend either position in the backcourt.
Haliburton is one of the most versatile guards in this upcoming draft. If you’re looking for a player who’s able to control the pace of the game and control your offense, look no further.