The Detroit Pistons look to have found some gems in the draft. But how good can they be?
After many years of whiffing in the draft, it looks as though the Detroit Pistons finally found some players.
Although rookie Killian Hayes went down with an injury, he flashed some elite skills for a 19-year-old trying to learn point guard in the NBA. His recovery from injury has to be one of the Pistons’ top priorities right now.
Isaiah Stewart has already endeared himself to Pistons’ fans with his rebounding and physical play. He is currently second among all rookies in rebounding and first in staredowns with Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Saddiq Bey looks like the steal of the draft, especially considering the Pistons got him with the 19th pick. He’d be top-five if we did it again, and it looks like the Pistons finally did something right when they jettisoned Luke Kennard to get Bey.
All three have shown promise, but what are their ceilings? Which players to they most resemble?
Isaiah Stewart looks like a young Ben Wallace
Ok, it is WAY WAY WAY too early for this.
Ben Wallace doesn’t get enough respect for being one of the greatest defensive players of all time, a guy who should 100 percent be in the Hall of Fame.
But there are some similarities, no?
Stewart and Wallace are nearly the same size and Stewart is actually 10 lbs. heavier and a lot stronger than Ben Wallace was when he came into the league.
Stewart is playing 17 minutes a game, scoring 3.9 points, grabbing five rebounds and blocking nearly a shot per game. Not bad for 17 minutes.
Ben Wallace didn’t get 17 minutes per game until his second season (16.8) and averaged 3.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game.
Wallace’s numbers just kept going up until he led the league in rebounding, was one of the best shot blockers in the NBA and eventually made All-NBA as a center.
I’m not saying Stewart will ever do any of those things but his style of play, physique and early stats are eerily reminiscent to Big Ben and it’s hard to overlook.
Detroit Pistons: Player comps for Killian Hayes
Killian Hayes reminds me of a young Jalen Rose
Jalen Rose entered the NBA as a point guard with plus size, a high basketball I.Q., a questionable jumper and a perceived lack of quickness. Sound familiar?
Rose is taller than Hayes, but otherwise, their games are similar. Both of them rely on their size to get where they want on the floor, both can defend multiple positions and both came into the league with a flawed jumper.
If you look at Rose’s numbers as a rookie (8.2 points, 4.8 assists on poor shooting splits) it’s not hard to imagine that Killians Hayes’ stats would have been similar if he had not gotten hurt.
Hayes was averaging 4.6 points and 3.6 assists before going down with an injury and setting back his development.
The biggest difference between Rose and Hayes is that Rose was 22-years-old as a rookie and Hayes is just 19, which makes him a much higher-ceiling prospect.
Hayes may end up being better than Rose, but Jalen was no slouch, just take a look at his numbers. This was a point guard who defended the wing and had a season where he scored 22.1 a game and shot 37 percent from 3-point range.
If Hayes ever becomes the player that Rose was, the Pistons will have a solid guy to build around for the next decade. I would take that in a heartbeat.
Detroit Pistons: Saddiq Bey could be an All-Star talent
Saddiq Bey reminds me of a young Metta World Peace
Probably not the comp Pistons’ fans wanted to hear, but before Metta World Peace (then Ron Artest) became known for the Malice in the Palace, he was one of the best all-around forwards in the league.
Artest was a talented and driven defender who could guard just about anyone from the other team’s point guard to center.
He wasn’t a great shooter like Bey appears to be, but World Peace did put up a season of over 40 percent from long range and was really one of the first 3-and-D type wings that the entire league now covets.
World Peace averaged 12 points and 4.3 rebounds as a rookie. Currently, Saddiq Bey is 10.4 points and 4.9 rebounds while shooting 45.7 percent from 3-point range.
Bey is already a better shooter than World Peace ever was and has shown signs of being an elite defender who can guard just about anyone.
People tend to forget just how good Metta World Peace was. In 2004-5 he averaged 24.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and was arguably the best wing defender in the league.
If Bey ever gets close to that the Pistons will be ecstatic but he is already a better shooter and is two inches taller than World Peace, so he has a chance to get there on defense as well.
The Detroit Pistons have to be happy with their trio of rookies even with the devastating injury. If finally looks like the Pistons are turning things around and doing it the right way.