Troy Weaver and the Detroit Pistons will have an eye on the NCAA conference tournaments, looking for the next possible gem in the draft.
The Big 10 Championship between the University of Illinois and Ohio State University is one such game, as it features a couple of players that might interest the Detroit Pistons, especially in the second round.
This game is short on top-tier talent but Illinois features two talented players who could end up being better than their current draft rating.
Both Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn are guys who are not at the top of anyone’s draft boards, but have skills that might translate well to to NBA.
They both fit the mold of what Troy Weaver is trying to build and could be available when the Pistons pick in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft.
Detroit Pistons: Where do the Pistons pick in the 2nd round?
The Detroit Pistons will have two picks in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft. They currently have a pick coming from the Toronto Raptors and one coming from the Charlotte Hornets, so Pistons’ fans should be cheering for these two teams to lose as much as possible.
The Toronto pick is the higher of the two and would be pick #41 if the draft were held today. The Charlotte pick would be #47, so both these picks could end up nearer the top of the round if these two teams falter in the second half.
Depending on how things shake out, both Dosunmu and Cockburn could be on the board with these picks and both have skills that might fit the Detroit Pistons.
Let’s take a closer look.
Potential Detroit Pistons draft picks: Kofi Cockburn
If the NBA Draft were held on looks alone, then Cockburn might be the #1 overall pick because this kid already has an NBA body, in fact, there are few current players in the NBA who are as big and strong as Cockburn is already.
He is a legit 7-footer and weighs 285 lbs. of solid muscle, so there is no doubt that Cockburn has the physicality to be in the NBA.
Strengths: Cockburn is physical, strong and could already bang with most NBA centers. He has improved mightily in his sophomore season, upping his points, rebounds, blocks and just about everything else.
He averaged 17.3 points, 9.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game for the Illini, who are one of the top teams in college basketball. He shoots 65.8 percent from the floor, though his free-throw percentage dipped in year two.
Cockburn can be a guy who gets tough rebounds, protects the rim and runs the floor in the NBA though he has a ton of question marks.
Weaknesses: If this were the 1990’s, Cockburn would almost certainly be a top-five pick, as he is a traditional center who can play in the post and defend, but in today’s NBA he is going to struggle to switch on defense, as he lacks lateral quickness.
He will definitely be a force on the interior but could get killed in the pick and roll unless he improves his foot speed.
He doesn’t do much on offense, especially when it comes to spreading the floor, but he is a physical presence who will make a team based on defense and rebounding.
Fit on the Pistons: Troy Weaver likes physical players who defend, so Cockburn might draw some interest, especially if he falls to the second round. He is a guy who will not play big minutes in the NBA but could be very effective in short spurts. He and Isaiah Stewart would be physical enforcers in the paint that would bring back memories from the Bad Boys days. Cockburn is raw but keeps getting better and could end up being a very effective player down the road.
Potential Pistons draft picks: Ayo Dosunmu
Ayo Dosunmu is a guy who definitely fits the profile of what Troy Weaver is building in Detroit, which is a versatile, long and athletic wing who can play all over the floor.
Strengths: Dosunmu is one of those guys who just gets it done however he needs to. His shot is not the prettiest, his handles aren’t flashy and he sometimes looks awkward running the floor, but somehow all of that translates to effective production.
He reminds me a bit of Shawn Marion, another lanky player with a weird shot who somehow always seemed to be around the ball making plays.
Dosunmu is a plus playmaker for his size and essentially plays a point forward type position for the Illini. He is very adept at slithering into the lane and knifing to the hoop to get his shots and set up teammates.
His long-range shooting has improved and he is a plus-rebounder who has the length to be an elite defender in the NBA. He is also a high character guy and leader who gets the most out of his teammates.
Weaknesses: Dosunmu has a problem with turnovers but that could be more from his high usage rate than his ball handling, which does need improvement. He might not have the handles or quickness to play the point in the NBA but he could definitely be a playmaker from the wing position.
His shot needs work and has some big mechanical flaws but it has improved. He is a junior, so one of the older prospects who might go in the first round.
Fit on the Pistons: After trading for Hamidou Diallo, it is clear that Troy Weaver has a type and that type is long, versatile athletes who can defend multiple spots. Dosunmu fits the mold and could be one of those guys who falls in the draft because of his age and weird jump shot. But this guy is a player, a winner and a leader and I think he’ll be a steal for someone if he falls to the second round. He could be a guy who comes in a plays right away and with a game similar to Jerami Grant, he would have a mentor to guide him.
These two might have played their way into the first round of the draft, in which case the Detroit Pistons probably won’t get a shot at them, but if they fall to the second round, they are definitely two players to take a hard look at.