Potential Pistons draft picks: 5 shooters for the second round
Possible Detroit Pistons draft picks: Matthew Hurt
The Detroit Pistons don’t have to look for a guard or wing who can shoot, as there are a number of big men who can step out and knock them down as well.
Matthew Hurt, power forward from Duke, is one of them.
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Hurt is a 6-foot-8 forward who is not much of a defender but he can hit shots from long range.
He shot 44 percent on 5.3 attempts from behind the arc this season for Duke and is projected to go near the top of the second round.
Hurt may be gone before the Pistons choose but he is a guy they might consider moving up to get, as he has an NBA-ready skill and would give them another versatile big man.
Shooters in the 2nd round: Luka Garza
Luke Garza is probably the most controversial prospect in this draft. He was the best player in college basketball this season but doesn’t necessarily have the traits modern NBA teams are looking for.
Some scouts believe he could be the next Nikola Jokic, a skilled center who can handle the ball, pass and step out and hit the 3-point shot.
Others think he is too slow to play in the NBA and that teams are just going to pick-and-roll him to death, as he does not have the lateral quickness to switch onto perimeter players.
One thing is certain, for a big man, Garza can shoot and his future might just be as an off-the-bench stretch five who can present matchup problems and get buckets in short bursts.
Garza shot 44 percent from long range on 3.2 attempts per game for Iowa in his senior season. Regardless of what you think of Garza’s overall ceiling, he should be able to find a spot in the NBA as a shooter as long as his defense doesn’t keep him off the floor.