The Detroit Pistons won the NBA Draft lottery and will choose first in the 2021 NBA Draft, but they also have three second-round picks to work with.
We know Troy Weaver can find talent, as he was able to get two All-Rookie performers outside of the lottery in Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart.
The Pistons will likely use the first pick on Cade Cunningham, who looks like a future superstar in the NBA.
But what about all of those second-round picks?
The Pistons could try to use them to move into the first round, but the 37th, 42nd and 52nd picks might not be enough to do so.
They could try for some international talent that they could stash overseas.
The Detroit Pistons could also look for some high upside talent that might have slipped through the cracks, as they did with Saben Lee in last year’s draft.
Marcus Bagley from Arizona State University might qualify as one of these types of players, as there were some factors that stopped him from reaching his full potential at ASU.
Detroit Pistons draft picks: NBA Draft prospect Marcus Bagley could have 1st-round talent
Bagley is the brother of current NBA player Marvin Bagley III and they profile as similar players.
Bagley’s teammate Josh Christopher has gotten most of the draft buzz, but it Bagley could end up being the better player, as he has all of the physical tools to succeed in the NBA.
Bagley profiles as a first-round talent but has slipped on most draft boards after suffering an injury and only playing 12 games in his freshman season at ASU.
This was already a wonky season for most college players due to COVID-19, and coupled with his injury, scouts didn’t get to see enough of Bagley, which could work out for the Detroit Pistons.
Detroit Pistons draft picks: NBA Draft prospect Marcus Bagley
Like his brother, Marcus Bagley is a long and athletic player with a huge wingspan who can run the floor.
He is a 6-foot-7 wing with a 6-foot-11 wingspan, which is exactly the type of player that Troy Weaver likes. The Pistons already have one of the longest teams in the NBA when it comes to wingspan, which is an advantage in a league where defenses are trying to switch on everything and defenders need to be able to guard more than one position.
Bagley is still raw after only playing a dozen games in college, but he has big time upside as an athlete, defender and shooter on the wing.
His 3-point shooting and defense are what will attract the Detroit Pistons, as Bagley shot 35 percent from long range on a high volume of six attempts per game.
Bagley also has a high motor and likes to get after it on defense, which we know the Pistons like, and wings who can defend and shoot the 3-point shot are coveted in the modern NBA.
Bagley’s injury might have cost him a chance at the first round, but he has that kind of potential and could be a steal for the Pistons if he falls to the 37th pick.
Detroit Pistons draft picks: NBA Draft prospect Marcus Bagley
Bagley is a guy I have seen mocked to the Detroit Pistons a few times and it makes sense, as he fits the profile of the type of player they’ve been targeting.
The Pistons are clearly building around defense first, and already had the 10th best defense in the league last season in terms of points allowed.
Bagley potentially gives them another long and versatile defender, but the difference between him and a guy like Josh Jackson is that Bagley can shoot.
His addition could make Jackson expendable in a trade, as the Pistons need more shooting to put around the defenders they already have.
Bagley might not be ready right away and that’s ok, as the Detroit Pistons may not have a roster spot for him anyway, so they could put him in the G-league for a season to get more experience.
I think the Detroit Pistons will try to move into the first round if they can, but if that doesn’t work out, taking a guy with high-ceiling talent in the second round makes a lot of sense.