Detroit Pistons: Draft picks rising up the big boards after NCAA tournament

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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 03: Jalen Suggs #1 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs dribbles against Johnny Juzang #3 of the UCLA Bruins in the second half during the 2021 NCAA Final Four semifinal at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 03, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

Possible Detroit Pistons draft picks: Jalen Suggs, Gonzaga

Suggs came into Gonzaga as the 6th ranked player in the ESPN 100. From the start, mock drafts had him as late-lottery prospect with huge upside. It’s safe to say he even outplayed those lofty expectations, especially in the NCAA tournament.

Besides hitting one of the biggest shots in the history of the tournament, Suggs made plays all tournament long. For east coast viewers, this may have been the first time watching Gonzaga all season long and he delivered.

His regular season averages of 14.4 ppg, 4.5 apg, and 1.9 spg almost seem pedestrian compared to what we saw from him this month. It became evident throughout Gonzaga’s run that he was their best player. Even in their loss to Baylor in the title game, Suggs kept the team close with his fiery will to win, scoring 22 points after committing two early fouls.

Strengths: Suggs is a highly skilled guard, with freakish athleticism and solid basketball IQ. He is NBA ready and has All-Star written all over him. He’s a killer in transition and has that “It factor”, however you want to quantify that.

Weaknesses: It is tough to find any glaring weaknesses. He needs to improve his three point shooting, which will come with time. His one move dribble-drives are deadly, but he could add more nuance to his ball handling.

Fit on the Pistons: Jalen Suggs would be a home run selection for the Detroit Pistons. Troy Weaver loves versatile players who can defend multiple positions. Suggs’ football background became a story during the tournament, showing where he gets his edge from. Maybe with any pick other than number one, Suggs is our guy. There is even a solid argument for taking him over Cade Cunningham, but we will cross that bridge when the time comes. Also, he would pair nicely with Killian Hayes in the backcourt.