The Detroit Pistons will have four picks in the upcoming NBA Draft and fans of the Pistons couldn’t be more excited.
Troy Weaver had an impressive first season as GM that included finding four players in last year’s draft. Killian Hayes, Isaiah Stewart, Saddiq Bey and Saben Lee have all spent time in the starting lineup this season and all look like impactful players.
Bey is setting rookie records for 3-point shooting, Stewart may be the best rookie defender this season and Hayes is finally starting to show flashes after a slow start and an injury derailed his season.
The Pistons went from having virtually no young talent to being fairly loaded and Troy Weaver deserves credit, as he was handed a dumpster fire of a roster and has completely revamped it.
So what do the Detroit Pistons need going into the 2021 NBA Draft?
Detroit Pistons: Biggest needs in the NBA Draft
I have written about the top priorities for the Pistons in the draft and it mainly just comes down to adding more elite talent regardless of fit or position.
The Pistons are not yet in a position to worry about “fit” as they just need to amass as much talent as possible.
But they could definitely use a shooter or two and a two-guard who can be a consistent scoring threat and get his own shot.
Other than that, the Pistons really just need more depth and talent, as they already have good young players at nearly every spot and have a few smart veterans like Mason Plumlee to complement them.
So here is my first stab at a Pistons’ Big Board. I will look at the top-30 prospects for the Detroit Pistons currently.
Obviously this list will change as the draft gets closer so check back regularly for Mock Drafts and Big Boards that reflect the most recent information.
Who is the top target for the Pistons? Let’s find out.
Detroit Pistons Big Board 1.0: Prospects 30-29
I wrote about Dosunmu as a possible second-round pick for the Pistons, but he has the skillset and attitude to rank a little higher.
Dosunmu has some big flaws, namely his wonky shot, though his percentages improved this year. But he also has a high motor, the length to defend all over the floor and he is a natural leader.
He seems like a Troy Weaver type guy and I could see the Pistons grabbing him if he were to fall to the second round.
Christopher had an up and down freshman year for ASU but has the prototypical size and skillset of an NBA shooting guard.
He has quick hands on defense, rebounds well for his position and has a nice shooting stroke even though it didn’t translate to results from long range. He will have to improve from that area if he wants to make an NBA roster.
Detroit Pistons Big Board 1.0: Prospects 28-27
McBride is one of my favorite potential second-round steals from this draft.
I love his on-the-ball defense, athleticism and ability to knock down the 3-point shot. I also love that he went head-to-head against some of the top guard prospects in the draft and didn’t back down.
He is tough, versatile and very much looks like a guy who would fit right in with the Detroit Pistons. He isn’t the biggest or longest player, but he makes up for it with a nonstop motor and high basketball I.Q.
If the Pistons wanted to grab another big to complement Stewart and Plumlee, then Jay Huff would not be a bad choice.
He played more in the lane in college than he will in the NBA and he projects as guy who will be a stretch-four and spend a lot of his time running pick-and-roll behind the arc in the NBA.
Huff is also one of the more accomplished shot blockers in the draft and the Pistons could definitely use some help in that area.
Detroit Pistons Big Board 1.0: Prospects 26-25
Gonzaga is going to be heavily featured on this list, as they have several guys who look ready to contribute. While Jalen Suggs got all the attention, teammate Joel Ayayi was part of the glue that made the team work.
He is a combo guard who can do a little bit of everything, similar to Frank Jackson. He has good size and though his numbers won’t jump out at you, he is solid in all areas and is one of those guys who always seems to make the right play.
Williams is one of those guys who didn’t really play all that well in his freshman season but has tools that are going to make scouts drool.
He doesn’t currently have an NBA-ready skill but he has great size for a small forward at 6-foot-8 and projects as as guy who will eventually be a very good defender with a long wingspan who can also knock down shots.
We know the Pistons like that combination but Williams is definitely a project and could spend a year or two in the G-League.
Detroit Pistons Big Board 1.0: Prospects 24-23
This year’s draft is going to be a good test for he G-League experiment, as there are several guys who will be first round picks who skipped college and went straight to the pros.
Will playing against tougher competition in an overall less competitive league be a benefit? We shall see.
Nix has a similar skillset to Killian Hayes in that he is a pass-first guard with size who doesn’t shoot the ball well but can rebound and defend.
You’ll notice a theme here, as a lot of the guys on this list are big shooting guards who can defend.
Shannon Jr. has good size for the position and projects as a guy who will be able to defend multiple spots in the NBA.
He is a fairly average shooter and will probably have to improve in that area to make an impact right away, but he can defend and rebound already.
Detroit Pistons Big Board 1.0: Prospects 22-21
If you just look at Cooper’s basic numbers he’d look like one of the top point guard prospects in this draft.
He scored over 20 per game as a freshman while also notching just over eight assists and four rebounds, which are great all-around numbers.
But he doesn’t have great size at 6-foot-1 and his scoring was very inefficient, as he shot just 39 percent overall and only 22 percent from behind the arc.
But he takes care of the ball and can dish it, so he could be a weapon off someone’s bench.
If the Pistons are looking for shot blocking, Isaiah Jackson can provide it, as he is one of the best pure rim protectors in the draft.
He is also a good rebounder and can run the floor a bit, but he’s not much of a threat on offense. He can’t shoot from range which puts a ceiling on what he can be as a power forward but his ability to protect the rim will get him a look.
Detroit Pistons Big Board 1.0: Prospects 20-19
The first international player to make the board, Sengun is one of the more intriguing and polarizing prospects in this draft.
Like all international prospects, the question is whether he played against enough good competition to put much stock in his numbers.
But the kid has size, can pass and rebound, has nice touch around the rim and has flashed the ability to step out and hit the long-range shot. He has rocketed up the boards lately and could be a guy who ends up in the top ten.
The guards from Baylor both fit the profile of what Troy Weaver likes, so they might have Jared Butler ranked a little higher than this.
He is already a dawg on the defensive end, shot over 41 percent on high volume from 3-point range and is a winner, as we just witnessed in the NCAA tournament.
Detroit Pistons Big Board 1.0: Prospects 18-17
Cameron Thomas is a guy who I think the Pistons should possible try and trade up to get, as he is an absolute bucket.
The freshman guard blew up in the tournament and turned some heads by dropping 30 on Michigan. His 3-point shot wasn’t great in college but he projects as guy who will score from all three levels in the NBA.
The problem is that he doesn’t yet do much else, especially on the defensive end, but the Detroit Pistons are a team that needs scoring and he could provide it in bunches off the bench.
Josh Giddey has drawn comparisons to Lonzo Ball for his size at point guard and his ability to make plays and rebound.
The Australian league is getting a lot better and Giddey was very good as an 18-year-old, averaging 10 points, seven assists, seven rebounds and 1.3 steals last season.
He will be one of the youngest prospects in the draft and one of the most intriguing, as he is 6-foot-8 and has a whole lot of skill with the ball.
Detroit Pistons Big Board 1.0: Prospects 16-15
The two guards from Tennessee are usually ranked near one another and find themselves together again here. Johnson is a 6-foot-5 shooting guard who can defend but needs work on his 3-point shooting.
The Pistons like tough defenders on the perimeter and Johnson fits the mold. He has potential to be a lockdown defender but will have to improve his overall shooting and efficiency on the offensive end.
Springer has many of the same qualities as his teammate but the difference is that he is a much better shooter.
At 6-foot-4, he can defend either guard spot and will probably be more of a tweener combo guard in the NBA. He too does a little bit of everything, can make plays and should be a guy who can be a 3-and-D type at the next level if he improves his volume from behind the arc.
Detroit Pistons Big Board 1.0: Prospects 14-13
Some fans might think this a bit too high but Kai Jones is one of the most electric athletes in the draft and could be even better in the NBA where his skillset can be better utilized.
Jones is known for his highlight-reel dunks and blocked shots but he projects as a guy who will eventually be able to step out and hit the NBA 3-point shot, as he hit 38 percent in college albeit on a low volume.
He is another guy who is very polarizing, as he is raw but if the Pistons want another athletic and versatile rim runner who can block shots, then Jones could get a look. They probably won’t have a chance at him unless he falls but Jones could end up being a top-ten talent from this draft.
I wrote about Duarte as one of the best pure shooters from this draft and a guy the Pistons might target in the second round.
This is higher than most people have him simply because he is already age 24 and not many guys that old go in the first round.
But the Detroit Pistons already have plenty of young players and Duarte has a skill they desperately need, which is 3-point shooting. He is also 6-foot-6 and will come into the NBA ready to play.
Detroit Pistons Big Board 1.0: Prospects 12-11
Few players improved their draft stock more this season than Franz Wagner, who now looks like a guy who will be chosen in the top ten.
He is a tough defender who can make plays and will likely play some point forward in the NBA. He has good size and his shot is getting better, so Wagner could end up being one of the better all-around players out of this draft.
Concerns about his athleticism have largely been alleviated as he has shown the ability to defend both forward positions.
Mitchell is one of my favorite players from this draft and a guy who definitely fits the mold of a Weaver player.
He is one of the toughest on-the-ball defenders in this draft, can shoot from range and has proven himself to be a winner and a leader.
He was definitely helped by a strong tournament and there may be a slight amount of bias because of it, but Mitchell is one of those guys who just makes winning plays.
What he lacks in height is made up for with strength and I think he’s going to be a very strong backup combo guard in the NBA for years to come.
Detroit Pistons Big Board 1.0: Prospects 10-9
If the Detroit Pistons drop out of the top-five of the draft, Bouknight is definitely a guy they will take a long look at.
Bouknight could be the scorer the Pistons lack, as he can fill it up all over the floor and is the type of explosive athlete Weaver likes.
He needs to improve his long-range shooting but other than that, Bouknight is a bucket who has size and rebounds his position well. I think his athleticism will also translate to the defensive end, which could make him one of the better guard prospects outside of the top five.
Jalen Johnson has had some issues this season that have probably hurt his draft status, as he quit mid-season after some things didn’t go his way which has been a red flag to some scouts.
Otherwise, Johnson has all of the tools, as he is a 6-foot-9 small forward who can block shots, rebound, defend multiple positions and hit a high percentage from 3-point range.
He is a top-five or six talent, there is no doubt of that, but does he have the mental makeup to thrive in the NBA? Someone is definitely going to take a chance on him and Johnson could end up being the best value pick in the draft if he falls.
Detroit Pistons Big Board 1.0: Prospects 8-7
I’ve written about Moody before and I like him even more now.
He is a big shooting guard with plus length who can defend all over the floor and knock down the 3-point shot, which is pretty much exactly what the Pistons need. He gets after it on the boards and has the type of mental makeup Weaver likes as he is a hard-nosed defender with a high motor.
He has a lot of the attributes the Detroit Pistons will look for in a shooting guard and could be the guy if the happen to get hosed in the draft lottery again.
This might be higher than some would rank the senior forward out of Gonzaga, but I think Kispert has the highest floor of just about anyone in this draft.
Yes, he is a bit older and there are some concerns about his athleticism against NBA forwards.
But unlike most of these prospects, Kispert will enter the NBA with an elite skill, which is scoring. He can shoot the rock from all over the floor and could end up being an elite 3-point shooter in the NBA.
He showed he can defend his position well enough and would be nice complement to some of the athletic forwards the Pistons already have, as he can shoot the lights out.
Detroit Pistons Big Board 1.0: Prospects 6-5
My favorite prospect outside of the top-five is Scottie Barnes out of Florida State. This guy has “Piston” written all over him, as he is tough, can defend everywhere, doesn’t care about stats and will do anything that is needed to help his team.
He could end up being one of the best all-around defenders in this draft and is a guy who is a plus-playmaker for the position.
He has a ton of Draymond Green vibe to him and is an even better athlete, so I love him as a glue guy who makes plays on both ends.
Another of the G-League prospects, Kuminga is not quite as polished as some of his counterparts but has some of the most intriguing talent in the entire draft.
He is a 6-foot-8 small forward with elite athleticism who can already defend and grab rebounds. He really just needs to get his shot going, as he is a 3-point shot away from being considered the best forward prospect in his class and he might be anyway.
He has played against adults for a season already and held his own, so Kuminga will come into the league ready to play. He could end up being a consistent double-double from the small forward position while defending a couple of spots.
Detroit Pistons Big Board 1.0: Prospects 4-3
Jalen Suggs helped his cause as much as anyone in the NCAA tournament, doing his best impersonation of a young Mr. Big Shot.
He is a smart point guard who can do it all, from rebounding, making plays and shooting from range.
He has surpassed Cade Cunningham on some draft boards and I believe he has the highest floor in this draft, as he can already do several things at an NBA level.
He will be a guy who makes an immediate impact for someone this season.
A lot of fans of the Detroit Pistons think Mobley is the best fit for Detroit, as he has the skillset to complement the bigs they already have.
Mobley can get it done on both ends, as he is an elite shot blocker who can handle the ball, score from all over and rebound the ball.
He looks like the second coming of Chris Bosh, as he can do it all as a big man. If the Pistons end up with Mobley, no one is going to be sad, and he and Isaiah Stewart would form the best young big man duo in the NBA.
Detroit Pistons Big Board 1.0: Prospects 2-1
The more film I watch of Jalen Green the more I love this kid and think he could be the perfect complement to Killian Hayes.
Green can do everything you want out of modern shooting guard, as he can score from all over, is an elite athlete and is a guy who can get his own shot, which is something the Pistons desperately need.
Green’s first step is as quick as anyone in the game and he has already proven he can score and defend against actual NBA players after spending a year in the G-League.
Green is tough, plays with an edge and would look great in a Detroit Pistons uniform. If they do not get the top pick, I think he’ll be the guy.
As the draft gets closer I am sure there will be some people who talk themselves out of Cade Cunningham, who has been the consensus number one pick for months.
I think Suggs and maybe even Green could have a bigger impact as a rookie but you can’t pass up a guy like Cunningham, who has the size and makeup to be a generational talent.
He already has the size of an NBA player, can score from all three levels, can rebound, make plays and just has that “it” factor teams are looking for in a star.
If the Pistons luck out and get the number one pick, Cunningham will be the guy and they will have the best young backcourt in the NBA with two huge guards who can make plays on both ends.