We have learned a couple of things about Detroit Pistons’ GM Troy Weaver this season.
The first is that he has an eye for talent and the second is that he is not afraid to pull the trigger if he sees a player he likes.
Weaver has been efficiently aggressive in his first season as GM and so far it has paid off, as the Detroit Pistons have managed to find some undervalued talent.
Weaver grabbed Josh Jackson off the scrap heap, which has turned out to be a moderate success, and traded for Hamidou Diallo, who looks like he will be part of the future core.
Weaver hit home runs in his first draft, finding talent outside of the lottery in Isaiah Stewart, Saddiq Bey and Killian Hayes, but this season he will be choosing in the top six, so it should be even easier for him to get his guy.
But who that guy might be is still a mystery.
Detroit Pistons: The top-5 of the NBA Draft
This season, a narrative has emerged around the 2021 NBA Draft that there is a consensus top five that is a tier above the rest.
Most draft boards have Cade Cunningham, Evan Mobley, Jalen Suggs, Jalen Green and Jonathan Kuminga as their top five in some order.
Are we sure Troy Weaver feels the same way? He recently said that “I don’t see any Shaq’s or Lebrons” in this draft and he’s not looking for any one player to save the franchise.
In other words, the consensus that we are all sure exists may not, and Weaver could have his eye on someone outside of that consensus top five, especially if the Pistons were to drop to the fourth or fifth pick.
If the Pistons land in the top-2, I fully expect Cunningham or Mobley to be the pick, but outside of that? It could be someone else.
James Bouknight is one name I’ve been hearing a lot lately, but would Troy Weaver reach and take him in the top five?
Detroit Pistons: NBA Draft prospect James Bouknight
One thing is certain, Troy Weaver is not going to make his pick based on what fans or the public think, nor should he.
He knows his team better than we do and he also has a better eye for talent, so I have faith that whoever Weaver chooses will be the right guy. Weaver is not going to be afraid to take whoever he thinks is the best player, and that could be someone like James Bouknight.
Bouknight is a 6-foot-5 shooting guard out of UCONN whose primary talent is scoring. He is an athletic shot maker who can get points from all over the floor, but thrives taking it to the rim in traffic and finishing in transition.
His athleticism, length and motor also make him a plus rebounder for his position and a guy who can potentially defend a couple of spots in the NBA. He projects as a slasher who will score from all three levels, grab a lot of rebounds and could be an elite defender.
The problem with Bouknight is that his range is questionable. He only hit 29.3 percent of his 3-point attempts on a fair volume, which is concerning, though his shot mechanics are pretty good overall.
His turnovers are also a bit high considering he is not much of a playmaker, so Bouknight definitely has some weaknesses even though he could end up being one of the better scorers in this draft.
Detroit Pistons draft picks: James Bouknight
Bouknight’s fit shouldn’t be much of a concern for Troy Weaver, as the Pistons just need to take the best talent available, so if Weaver selects Bouknight, it will be because he thinks he is the best player.
But he does fill a need, as the Pistons are abysmal offensively and need another scoring option to go along with Jerami Grant.
The problem is that Bouknight isn’t going to create space with his shooting, at least not right away, and the Pistons already have a bunch of slashers who can score around the rim but can’t shoot 3-point shots. Eventually they need to find some long-range shooting.
Ideally, they can draft a guy who will eventually be a 20 ppg scorer, as the Pistons already have a top-ten defense that they hope will be even better next season.
Bouknight is long and athletic, so he fits the profile of the types of guys Weaver seems to like, which are players who are versatile defensively and can guard up.
Of course we are all hoping that the Detroit Pistons get the number one pick so they can get the best player, but if they drop to 5 or 6, I could see Weaver taking someone who is slightly off the radar.
That player could be Bouknight, who has some of the skills the Detroit Pistons need. Either way, you can expect the unexpected if the Pistons drop out of the top four.