Possible Detroit Pistons draft picks outside of the top-five

Possible Detroit Pistons draft picks: James Bouknight

If the Detroit Pistons wanted to add an explosive scorer next to Killian Hayes, then they could do a lot worse than James Bouknight, who may end up being the best scorer in this draft.

Bouknight is coming out of UCONN and already has the feel of a big-game scorer. This is a guy who could blow up on the big stage once he gets his chance.

Strengths: Bouknight can fill it up from all over the floor and is an explosive athlete with good size for the position. He has a high motor and is a plus-rebounder for his size, especially on the offensive end where he has a nose for the ball and for getting put back dunks. He’s averaging 20 points and 5.6 rebounds for UCONN and can get points in a number of ways.

Weaknesses: Bouknight can score from all over but is not a great 3-point shooter, which could hinder his game at the next level. He has the quickness and athleticism to get into the lane, but defenders will sag off him until he proves he can knock down the long-range shot at a higher rate. He’s not much of a playmaker and needs to work on his handles, as he turns the ball over way too much for a guy with his usage rate.

How he fits on the Pistons: If the Detroit Pistons would like to put another big guard next to Killian Hayes, then Bouknight would be a good complement, though they might have some troubles spreading the floor. The Pistons would have two big guards to build around which fits in with their ethos of long players who are versatile and can play multiple positions.

The Detroit Pistons hope they don’t have to make this choice, but let’s be real, history is not on our side. If they do end up falling out of the top-five, there are still plenty of talented players that could help the rebuild and Troy Weaver has shown that he can find them.