The Detroit Pistons are bringing Sekou Doumbouya along slowly.
Fans of the Detroit Pistons have been begging the team to take a risk on a high-ceiling prospect in the draft and that’s exactly what they did with Sekou Doumbouya.
After years of drafting role players like Luke Kennard and Bruce Brown, the Pistons went after a guy they knew was going to be a project when they took him with the 15th pick.
The profile on Sekou Doumbouya was that he was an uber-athletic combo forward who had the potential to defend multiple spots and eventually develop an offensive game similar to Pascal Siakam’s.
That hasn’t happened yet and some impatient fans are ready to call the pick a bust, which is absurd considering the fact he is just 20-years-old and has barely played.
The Detroit Pistons are currently playing Blake Griffin, their best player, more than 32 minutes a game, hopefully in an effort to showcase his talents so they can eventually trade him.
If and when they do, more minutes will open up for Sekou Doumbouya.
The draft is always easier in hindsight and yes, there were some players taken after Doumbouya who are already contributors in the NBA.
But none of them look like stars or guys who can be the centerpiece of a franchise. Neither does Doumbouya obviously, but can the guy at least get a chance to play 20 minutes a game before we declare him trash?
If he still isn’t contributing at a high level in a year or two, then it is fair to start assessing that draft, but until then there is still every chance for this to work out, even this season.
Here is the best and worst-case scenario for Sekou Doumbouya this season.