The Detroit Pistons will have three selections in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft and could go in a lot of directions.
One option would be just to take three players and see if one of them sticks, but the Pistons won’t likely have three open roster spots, so it would be more likely that they would end up in the G-League.
Another option would be to try and package the picks and trade up to the first round, which is a possibility, as the Pistons have the 37th, 42nd and 52nd picks, which might be enough to move into the first round.
The second-round is not usually a place to draft for need, but the Detroit Pistons might be able to help some of their issues in this very deep draft.
Detroit Pistons: Priorities in the NBA Draft
I’ve written about the Pistons’ priorities for the 2021 NBA Draft and it mostly just comes down to getting as much talent as possible.
The Pistons are coming off a 20-win season and are not yet in the position to think about roster fit, as they just need to keep stockpiling talent and let the rest work itself out.
But the Pistons definitely need some shooting and scoring in general, as they had a top-ten defense in points allowed but were awful on offense.
Troy Weaver clearly likes guys who can defend, so I can’t see him ignoring defense when he makes his selection, which is why Nah’shon Hyland from VCU could be a good choice in the second round, as he can score and defend his position.
Let’s take a look at his strengths and weaknesses, as well as how he might fit on the Detroit Pistons.
Detroit Pistons: NBA Draft prospect Nah’shon Hyland, VCU
Nah’shon Hyland is a 6-foot-3 combo guard out of VCU who can play both on and off the ball, though he is more of a shoot-first type of player.
And he can shoot.
Hyland hit 37.1 percent of his 3-point shots on 7.8 attempts per game, which is high volume for a college player. He also shot 86.2 percent from the free-throw line, numbers that usually translate into a quality NBA shooter.
He also rebounds well for his position, grabbing 4.7 per game to go along with his 19.5 points.
Hyland is a very good on-the-ball defender and projects as a guy who can potentially defend both guard spots, get his hands on a lot of balls and swipe plenty of steals, as he averaged 1.9 per game in college.
He can finish around the rim, and is good off the bounce going to his left or as a catch-and-shoot 3-point option.
Hyland is not a very good creator however, and will likely be more of a 3-and-D option off the bench than a guy who can make plays.
If he sounds a little like Frank Jackson, that’s because he is, as Hyland can be a scoring option off the bench but is caught in the nether region between shooting and point guard.
Detroit Pistons draft picks: How Nah’shon Hyland fits on the Pistons
On paper, Hyland is a good complement to what the Detroit Pistons already have, as he can get buckets, which is something they need.
The Pistons already have long, versatile defenders in Jerami Grant, Saddiq Bey, Killian Hayes, Isaiah Stewart and Hamidou Diallo (if he stays) and could use some guys who can hit long-range shots and spread the floor.
Depending on what happens with Dennis Smith Jr., Saben Lee and Frank Jackson, the Pistons could need some guard depth and Hyland is a potential fit off the ball with Hayes, as Killian is a creator and Hyland is a scorer.
A lot depends on who the Pistons take in the first round of the draft, as they might already have already added another guard.
But if they go with someone like Evan Mobley in the first round, then the Pistons might still need to add another guard or two this offseason depending on what they do with their own free agents.
Like I said earlier, the Detroit Pistons are not yet in a position to worry about “need” in the draft, they just have to go with the best players, but Hyland does potentially fit their rebuild and could be a nice piece, even if he starts the season in the G-League.