Isaiah Stewart has become Detroit Pistons best prospect

How is Isaiah Stewart the best prospect?

Among the rookies, Saddiq Bey has been more impactful overall and Killian Hayes likely still has the most potential?

The best way to value how high-level a prospect is, would be to look at how rare their abilities are. Basically, it’s not just about being a useful player, it’s about being a useful player in such a way that you can’t find a veteran who can do as well. Because, before too long, all young players become just another veteran.

As much fun as Saddiq Bey is, (and to be clear, this is not a shot at Bey, who has been fantastic), there are usually around 50 guys every season who are over 6-foot-7 and shoot 38% or higher from deep. (Bey’s at 38% as of this writing, but with how streaky he has been, that could be a couple points higher or lower when you read this.)

Just think, in the last few years for the Pistons of guys who fit Bey’s basic profile of “wing/forward-type who can shoot and play hard but is limited with the ball in his hands.” KCP, Reggie Bullock, Anthony Tolliver and Tony Snell all can fill a similar role. (Bullock is probably Bey’s best comparison, Snell is a stretch because he just isn’t very good but the point still stands.)

This is where Stewart and his three-point shot come in.

While there are dozens of dozens of guys in the league at any given time who can provide similar skill-sets to Bey, what guys can do what Isaiah Stewart is showing?

As in checking all three boxes of: Defense, Rebounding, and shooting.

Stewart is currently shooting over 40% from deep and averaging nearly 11 boards and two blocks per 36 minutes.

Even if we assume regression in all three areas as his minutes increase and the sample-size gets larger, here is the list of guys this season shooting 37% from deep and averaging 10 rebounds and 1 block per 36 minutes:

• Joel Embiid
• Karl Anthony-Towns
• Christian Wood
• Jarrett Allen
• Isaiah Stewart