Detroit Pistons 2021 NBA Draft: Who to take at each position

Detroit Pistons draft picks: Evan Mobley

Center – Evan Mobley, USC

There would be no surprises if Mobley goes first overall this year. He’s just that good. He’s an efficient scorer, a good rebounder, and an elite defender down low. Pretty much the whole package. 

He can handle the ball and run the floor. He can shoot from anywhere on the floor and will fit in nicely in comparisons with LaMarcus Aldridge circa 2014 or Karl-Anthony Towns, and that’s just his floor. His ceiling is to be the best center of his generation.

On the defensive end, he can give Detroit three blocks at minimum most nights, and his high defensive IQ prevents him from giving up needless fouls. He will be a plug-and-play guy from day one.

He can pull up like Kawhi Leonard, power through the paint like Joel Embiid, and defend like Gobert. Maybe this is all hyperbole and he won’t live up to the hype. That doesn’t even matter, because even if he is a bust and doesn’t improve much, you can play him in the NBA right now and he’ll be a fringe All-Star.

The 2020 and 2021 drafts have not seen many sure-things. Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball had their doubters, Cade Cunningham is not a sure thing. Zion was, and Evan Mobley is the surest thing coming to the league this year. If he’s available, get him, regardless of who else is there.