The Detroit Pistons have four picks in the upcoming 2021 NBA Draft and should be very busy one way or another.
The Pistons currently have the third-worst record in the NBA, so have the best possible odds of landing in the top-four or getting the number one overall pick.
If the dream were to happen and the Pistons did land the number one pick, they could either use it to take Cade Cunningham or even trade down to get a different impact talent and grab a few more assets along the way.
Troy Weaver will be scheming how best to use the picks but when it comes to priorities the Detroit Pistons have three clear ones entering the NBA Draft.
Detroit Pistons draft picks: Take the best player with the first-round pick
This may sound common sense but there are a lot of fans talking about “fit” when it comes to the first round pick.
It’s absolutely fine to wonder how Cade Cunningham might fit with Killian Hayes, but what isn’t fine is to say “the Pistons shouldn’t draft a point guard BECAUSE they already have Killan Hayes.”
Did I miss the rule where teams can only have a certain amount of talent? The Pistons are one of the worst teams in the NBA, they need as much top-tier talent as they can get, so forget about position and fit, the Pistons absolutely have to pick the player who they think will be the best, period.
We can talk about how Evan Mobley fits with Isaiah Stewart, fine, but please don’t act like Beef Stew is a reason NOT to take Mobley.
The Detroit Pistons need to get the best player available with their first pick and it doesn’t matter what position that guy plays.
This might seem like a no-brainer, but there are fans out there talking about “fit” as if the Pistons are a title contender already and just need to fine-tune their roster. The priority is talent, it’s that simple.
Detroit Pistons Draft: The Pistons need to find a shooter
Another priority the Detroit Pistons should have in the 2021 NBA Draft is to find a shooter.
The Pistons are in the bottom third of the league in 3-point percentage and would love to find a guy who can shoot in the second round.
The Detroit Pistons have a lot of similar players in Jerami Grant, Hamidou Diallo and Josh Jackson, athletic slashers who can defend but who aren’t the best shooters.
Grant has improved his shot considerably this season and should continue to get better but it would be nice to have another plus shooter to go along with Saddiq Bey.
This would help open up the Pistons’ offense and make them a little less predictable. Jerami Grant and Killian Hayes get 13 potential assists per game between them this season and it would be nice to see some of those converted into buckets.
At this point the Detroit Pistons need a lights-out shooter to go along with the athletic slashers that they already have.
Luckily, there should be a number of shooters in the second round of this year’s draft, so if the Pistons keep all of their picks, they should be able to find one.
That brings me to the next point, which is whether the Pistons SHOULD keep all of those picks.
Detroit Pistons draft picks: Pistons must maximize their assets
The final priority for the Detroit Pistons in the 2021 NBA Draft is to maximize their assets.
That could mean using their firepower to trade up to try and get the best player.
It could also mean using all three of their second-round picks to trade into the end of the first round to take a guy like Cameron Thomas.
Troy Weaver needs to evaluate whether adding three players in the second round is better than adding just one at the back end of the first.
The Pistons have a lot of assets, especially when you consider that they have veteran players like Mason Plumlee under contract who might also be attractive in a trade.
However, he does it, Troy Weaver must prioritize maximizing his assets to walk away from this draft with the best possible combination of players.
Personally, I would love it if the Pistons could get a top-five pick and then use their second-round picks to try and trade up to find one more guy.
Realistically, they are not going to be able to add four players to the active roster, so some of them are destined for the G-League or to be stashed overseas.
Why not try to move up and walk away with two guys you can immediately add to the team?
The Detroit Pistons are going to be players on draft night, that much is certain, and if Troy Weaver’s history is any indication, they will be making some moves.
If the Pistons can walk away with the best player available to them and grab a shooter or trade up for another impact talent, this draft will be a success.