The NCAA tournament gets underway today and there are a number of games that the Detroit Pistons will be watching closely.
The Pistons are zeroing in on a hopeful top-five pick in the 2021 NBA Draft but also hold a couple of second-round picks as well.
This should be a very deep draft, so the Pistons can probably find talent at the top of each round to add to their already impressive young core.
There will be plenty of impact talent on display on the first day of the tournament. Here are five games with players the Detroit Pistons will be watching.
Possible Pistons draft picks: Illinois vs. Drexel
Prospects to watch: Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn
The first game is a #1 seed vs. a #16 so will likely be a blowout but there are a couple of reasons to watch. I wrote a detailed breakdown of these two prospects prior to their Big 10 championship game vs. Ohio State.
Neither of them are projected to go in the lottery but could be there when the Pistons pick in the second round, especially if the Toronto Raptors keep plummeting, The Detroit Pistons own Toronto’s pick, which could end up being near the top of the second round.
That is exactly where Dosunmu and Cockburn are projected to be drafted, so they could be in the Pistons’ range.
I love Dosunmu in the second round, as he is a long athletic player who could end up being a tough defender in the NBA. I also like his leadership and the fact that he is a high-character guy and a winner.
Cockburn is a raw prospect who already possesses a body that most NBA players would be jealous of. If he can improve his lateral quickness and add some range to his jumper, he could be a nice short-burst rim protector off someone’s bench.
Possible Pistons draft picks: Texas Tech vs. Utah State
Prospects to watch: Terrence Shannon Jr. (Texas Tech) and Neemis Queta (Utah State)
Terrence Shannon Jr. would probably have to fall to the second round for him to be available for the Detroit Pistons and he is being mocked in the low 20’s on most big boards.
He is a shooting guard with plus size at 6-foot-6 and has the length to be a lockdown defender and above average rebounder in the NBA. He especially gets after it on the offensive glass and would be another versatile wing with length, which is something Troy Weaver seems to like.
With a lot of shooting guards projected to go in the first round, Shannon Jr. could be one of those guys who falls into the second round, in which case the Detroit Pistons would definitely take a look.
We wrote about Neemis Queta as a possible fit for the Detroit Pistons out of the Mountain West, a mid-major conference that has a number of interesting prospects that could fit the Pistons.
He is a legit 7-footer who is one of the best shot blockers in the country and also grabs double-digit rebounds. If the Detroit Pistons wanted to add more size and rim protection, he is projected to go right about where they would be picking in the second round.
He has decent touch for a big man and could end up becoming more of a facilitator in the half court in the NBA.
This should be a competitive game that will have a couple of guys who could be in the Pistons’ range.
Possible Detroit Pistons draft picks: Arkansas vs. Colgate
Prospect to watch: Moses Moody
Moody would probably only be the Detroit Pistons’ draft pick if the worst happens and they fall outside of the top-five.
Moody is a very interesting prospect but is not projected to go in the top-five, so if he ends up on the Pistons then it means they didn’t have much luck in the lottery.
If the Pistons did happen to fall, then Moody wouldn’t be a bad consolation prize, as he could end up being the best shooting guard in the draft.
He has plus size at 6-foot-6 and has the length to defend multiple positions. He is a good 3-point shooter who profiles as a 3-and-D wing type who could be a plus-perimeter defender and rebounder, which we know the Pistons like.
He’s not a great playmaker and would need to improve his handles but he would be asked to do less of that in the NBA and could end up being more of a spot-up shooter.
The Pistons would love to add another guard with size to go with rookie Killian Hayes, as they seem to be building around defense and could have a long and athletic team on the perimeter.
Possible Detroit Pistons draft picks: Florida vs. Virginia Tech
Prospects to watch: Keyontae Johnson and Scottie Lewis
Both of these guys play for Florida and would likely only end up on the Detroit Pistons if they fall to the second round, which is unlikely in the case of Johnson but not so for Lewis.
Keyontae Johnson is a 6-foot-5 small forward who an score from all three levels and is a good rebounder and defender.
He is projected to go in the 20’s on most sites, so if he has a good tournament he might improve his draft status in which case he would probably be out of reach for the Pistons. The Pistons need scorers and he is a high percentage shooter who makes 64 percent of his field goals.
Scottie Lewis is a long combo guard/forward who is mostly known for his defense and should be there when the Pistons choose in the second round.
If they wanted to add a potential defensive specialist to there backcourt, then Lewis might get a look, as he averages 1.6 steals and 1.2 blocks per game from the guard position. He has the length and size to potentially defend three spots in the NBA and he will bring energy and hustle to wherever he ends up.
There are some questions about his shooting but Lewis’ value will be as a defender.
Possible Pistons draft picks: Oklahoma State vs. Liberty
Prospect to watch: Cade Cunningham
This is one that fans of the Detroit Pistons will have circled on their calendar, as it will feature the projected number one pick, Cade Cunningham.
Cunningham has all of the tools to be a star and already looks like an NBA player physically at 6-foot-7, 210 lbs.
He can rebound, defend and score from all three levels and reminds me of Ben Simmons in the way he can bully people physically. The difference is that Cunningham can shoot, so he has the potential to be a two-way superstar and the foundation of a franchise.
Since he is likely to go number one overall, the Pistons will either have to find some lottery luck or potentially trade up to get Cunningham, which comes with some pros and cons.
He is going to be a star in the NBA for someone and the Detroit Pistons are hoping it is them, as he has transformative talent that could speed up the Pistons’ rebuild and give them one of the best young groups in the NBA.
If he has a strong tournament and OK State goes on a deep run, he will be a top-3 pick, so this is a young man the Detroit Pistons will be watching closely.