The Detroit Pistons have a lot of options with the three picks they have in the 2nd round of the 2021 NBA Draft.
The Pistons definitely need shooters and may be able to find a good one in the second round of the draft.
But most of the time teams don’t draft for need in the 2nd-round, so another option is just to take the best high-ceiling talent available and hope for the best.
There are several young international prospects in this draft that could be perfect draft-and-stash candidates for the Detroit Pistons as they rebuild.
Detroit Pistons draft picks: The 2nd-round is for gambling
Most 2nd-round picks never make a meaningful impact in the NBA, so it is a place to take a few risks on high-ceiling prospects who are still raw and might not be ready for several years.
Teams can secure the draft rights to international prospects and let them mature overseas without wasting a roster spot, which might be an option for the Detroit Pistons, who are already going to have a crowded bench.
One such option is Juhann Bégarin, a guard out of France, who has the size and athleticism to be an NBA player but may need more time to develop.
With so many 2nd-round picks, an international prospect that might not come over for a year or two may have some appeal, so let’s take a look at Juhann Bégarin, his strengths and weaknesses and how he might fit on the Detroit Pistons.
Detroit Pistons: NBA Draft prospect Juhann Bégarin
Juhann Bégarin is a 6-foot-5 shooting guard out of France who many believe will be the top international prospect out of this draft.
He is also one of the youngest players in the draft at just 18-years-old, so he is a definite draft-and-stash candidate or a possibility for the G-League.
What intrigues scouts is Bégarin’s size and athleticism, as he is a big, strong kid who can run the floor and has the physical strength to overwhelm defenders in isolation.
He also has a seven foot wingspan and a high motor, two things we know Troy Weaver likes, as the Pistons keep stockpiling players who fit that mold.
Bégarin is still very raw offensively, and though he is a good scorer, he does it mostly by using his plus athleticism to do what he wants to lesser opponents, which he won’t be able to do in the NBA.
If he can develop a long-range shot he could be an athletic 3-and-D type who can guard the entire perimeter, but he has a long way to go offensively.
Detroit Pistons draft picks: How Juhann Bégarin fits
Juhann Bégarin fits the Detroit Pistons in a couple of ways.
Firstly, they are not likely to have open roster spots for three 2nd-round draft picks, so taking a long-term project who is still 18 probably has some appeal.
He also fits the mold of what Troy Weaver seems to like, which is long, athletic players who can defend. It’s a lot easier to teach a hard-nosed defender how to shoot than it is to teach a shooter how to defend and you can’t teach size and athleticism.
The Detroit Pistons have plenty of guards now but that could all change depending on what they do with their own free agents.
Juhann Bégarin definitely does not profile as a guy who is going to come in an play right away, but they can stash him overseas or in the G-League, see how he develops over the next year and then re-evaluate.
The Pistons could also just trade one or two of their 2nd-rounders for future picks, but if Weaver likes a player like Bégarin he may as well draft him this offseason since he’d still be a teenager next year and no different from a college prospect.
The Detroit Pistons might take a risk on a high-ceiling but long-term project in the second round and Juhann Bégarin is a good bet.