When the Detroit Pistons are looking at the 2021 NBA Draft class, players from conferences like the Big Ten, SEC, Big 12, ACC, WCC, and PAC 12, and even G-League stand out. This is standard, as they play against a very high level of competition and it is easy to predict how the players will transition to the NBA.
Mid-majors are sometimes forgotten about, but the hometown Horizon League may provide interesting second-round picks for the Detroit Pistons. Or maybe not. Looking at the 2020-21 All-Horizon team, some players emerge as possible late picks, and others don’t.
The teams represented in the All-Horizon team are Cleveland State, Detroit Mercy, Oakland University, and Wright State.
The only current NBA player who went to Clevland State is Bryn Forbes of the Bucks, and the only other noteworthy player from CSU was Manute Bol. Not exactly a school that churns out NBA talent. This is a theme with all the schools.
Detroit Mercy can claim no current NBA players, and Oakland University only has four ever, but one of them is Kendrick Nunn, who is a solid player for a good team.
Wright State only has two players ever drafted, and none in this century.
Clearly, all these players are at high risk. Now, let’s look at the five options and see if any of them fit.
Possible Detroit Pistons draft picks: Torrey Patton, Guard, Cleveland State
Torrey Patton is an oversized guard who still has one year of eligibility, so he may not declare for this draft. He was Horizon League tournament MVP this season, but his numbers are not impressive.
His scoring is not very high, and while his midrange and inside shot are solid, he doesn’t have a three-ball and his defense is not very good. He looks a lot like Obi Toppin, but make no mistake, he is nowhere near a first-rounder, let alone a lottery pick.
He did put up an impressive stat line against Oakland in the finals of the conference tournament, but unless he lights up Houston in March Madness, I suspect Patton will have a decent career in Europe.
VERDICT: IF AVAILABLE, PASS
Possible Detroit Pistons draft picks: Antione Davis, Guard, Detroit Mercy
Antoine Davis is only a junior, but expect to hear his name called in 2022. The only things holding him back are his conference and weight. He is fast, slender, and can do it all.
His defensive numbers are good enough, and he’s a great scorer and passer, so give him the ball. I suspect he’ll return to Mercy for his senior season, but if he doesn’t he could be a late-second-round draft pick.
We already have a lot of guards, so Davis may not be the best fit, but it would be cool to have a Detroit student on the roster. Not this year, but maybe next season?
VERDICT: IF WE SOLVE THE GUARD PROBLEM, MAYBE NEXT YEAR
Jalen Moore, Guard, Oakland University
Jalen Moore is the only Oakland Unversity player on the list, so let’s clear the air. I am a student at OU, so yes, there may be some bias towards him. Now that that’s out of the way, I have one thing to say: avoid him at all costs.
If you only look at Jalen Moore’s stat line, he actually looks like a solid pick. He’s a junior like Antoine Davis, so he probably won’t be available in 2021, but he is putting up over eight assists a night and shoots very well from the floor. On defense, he’s scrappy, which is perfect for an undersized guard. And that’s the issue.
He’s not even six feet tall and only weighs 155 pounds. A player that small cannot make it in the NBA unless he’s an absolute freak of nature. Moore is a very good player, but he simply is not NBA caliber. Pass.
VERDICT: PASS NO MATTER WHAT
Possible Detroit Pistons draft picks: Tanner Holden, Guard/Forward, Wright State
Tanner Holden is the first of two Wright State players, and it’s already been determined that Write State does not have an NBA pedigree. Holden may be the exception to that rule.
At 6’6” and 185 pounds, he has time to put on mass as he’s only a sophomore. His scoring is good, and he takes smart shots. Which is why he’s shooting over 60 percent this year.
Holden is a very high IQ player who may be a defensive liability, but that could change over time. I seriously doubt he won’t play two more years, so check back in before the 2023 draft, he could be a small conference sleeper. He should only get better, and he’s already all-conference.
VERDICT: TAKE IN 2023 IF POSSIBLE
Loudon Love, Center, Wright State
Loudon Love is a senior this year, so he could be available. At 6-foot-8 and 260 pounds, the farmboy scored 17 points this year and snagged 10 rebounds. He also avoids foul trouble, which is odd for a player who resembles Draymond Green.
Love is the highest risk on the board. He is not a tall center, but he can use his weight and strength to muscle people under the basket. That certainly worked for him in the Horizon League, but it might not transition well to the NBA when you’re going up the very best every night.
Mason Plumlee may be a good mentor for Love because the only part of his game that needs work (at the college level) is his passing. Plumlee could help with that.
Love shoots 50 percent from the floor, almost always near the basket. With him, it’s very high risk.
VERDICT: INTERESTING PICK, BUT PROBABLY AVOID UNLESS YOU WANT BOOS ON DRAFT NIGHT