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Detroit Pistons Draft: Evaluating the All-Atlantic 10 team

By Jonah Kubicek

Saint Louis Billikens guard Jordan Goodwin (0). Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Saint Louis Billikens guard Jordan Goodwin (0). Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kyle Lofton St. Bonaventure
St. Bonaventure Bonnies guard Kyle Lofton (0) moves to the basket against the Louisiana State Tigers. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports /

Kyle Lofton, Guard, St. Bonaventure

St. Bonaventure was the Atlantic 10 Conference’s representative in the NCAA Tournament, but Kyle Lofton did not really show up.

The star guard played nearly the entire game in their first-round loss against LSU, but he only managed 10 points, 5 assists, and 3 boards. Not impressive for the young man who was supposed to be the star of that matchup.

Lofton also has a year of eligibility still, so it will be no surprise when he doesn’t declare for the 2021 NBA Draft. He’ll most likely return to St. Bonaventure, have another good year, and then have a lengthy career in one of the European Leagues.

Lofton is simply not an NBA talent.

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He does everything well for an A-10 player, but to make the leap to the next level, you have to be great at the current one.

If he declares for the draft this year, which I doubt he will, Detroit should be like the other 29 teams and pass.

Tre Mitchell, Center, Massachusetts

Tre Mitchell is only a sophomore, but if he declares for the draft this year he is sure to be a value pick. If he stays at UMass for another season or two, he could be an early pick, perhaps even lottery-bound.

Mitchell does it all. Detroit might have its center of the future in Isaiah Stewart (unless they draft Evan Mobley), but, at 6-f–t9 and 240 pounds, Mitchell could be a forward alongside him.

He scores 18 a night and snags a good amount of rebounds, but what really stands out is his ability to defend on the perimeter as well as down low. He does both very well.

His freshman year he was an afterthought in the conference behind lottery pick Obi Toppin of Dayton, but Mitchell is truly one of the better players in the Atlantic 10, perhaps even one of the better mid-major players in the country.

If Mitchell declares for the draft this year and falls to Detroit, I will rejoice. If he waits another year or two, people will be calling for GM Troy Weaver to use a first-round pick on him, so hopefully, Detroit can nab him this year.

How he will fit into the rotation will be interesting to see, but he will probably be the best player available when Detroit’s name is called in the second round. I say go for it.