Pistons: 4 reasons Isaiah Stewart will be a better player than Draymond

1. Isaiah Stewart is a smarter ball handler

Draymond Green is one of the smartest players around, but given that he has spent his career surrounded by amazing players, he turns the ball over a lot.

Green simply puts the ball on the floor too much for someone who plays his position. Draymond Green has averaged 2.2 turnovers a game throughout his career, while Stewart only lost the ball go 1.3 times per night this year. The only time Green averaged fewer than that, was in his first two seasons when he averaged fewer minutes than Stewart.

In terms of turnover percentage, Green has always had a higher one than what Stewart put up in his rookie campaign. Often by as many as seven percentage points.

But Green is a better passer.

Most of his turnovers come when he tries to put the ball on the floor, which is, more often than not, a bad idea. His assist numbers are significantly higher, which you could attribute to being constantly surrounded by two of the best shooters ever, but, I think, he’s just a better passer. He can move better in transition and is better without the ball, meaning he can be open to kick a ball out without any issues.

Passing and free throw shooting are the only two areas where I am confident Draymond will remain ahead of Stew, but if those are the only two areas, I’m okay with that.

Stewart can practice his free throws over and over, and Killian Hayes is a dynamic ball mover, so Stewart doesn’t need to be great in that area.

Under the rim on both ends of the court, I’ll take Stewart any day, and if his rookie season was just a taste of what he’s capable of, then he will be a centerpiece to a championship team soon enough.