Detroit Pistons: Steal or bust? 5 controversial 2021 NBA Draft prospects

The Detroit Pistons need to have a strong NBA Draft and some of that is going to rely on luck.

They not only have to get lucky enough for the lottery balls to fall their way but have to make the right call if they do end up with a top choice.

Troy Weaver seems up to the task and has already shown an eye for talent, grabbing Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart late in the first round, two guys who now look like the steals of their draft.

The words “steal” and “bust” get thrown around a lot in regards to draft picks, but really it’s just about how they perform relative to their draft position.

If a guy is picked 19th, like Bey, and plays like a top-five rookie, then he is a steal. If a guy gets taken in the top-five and isn’t great right away, he’s called a bust.

It’s completely unfair and not always an indicator of who will be the better player in the long run. Killian Hayes would be one fans might label “bust” from this draft while Tyrese Haliburton would be one of the “steals.”

We will surely be revisiting this over the years and Hayes could very well end up the better player. The NBA Draft is a crapshoot really, as there are very few “can’t miss” prospects and some guys hit their ceiling early while others take a few years to develop.

So when I say steal or bust, I am really just referring to their potential to be impact NBA players vs. where they might be drafted.

Here are five controversial draft prospects who have a lot of “steal” or “bust” potential depending on where they are taken in the draft.

These are all players who the Detroit Pistons might be able to get with one of their second-round picks, or by trading to move up to the middle or late first round.