Detroit Pistons: So who gets benched by No. 1 NBA Draft pick?
If Evan Mobley is in for the Detroit Pistons; Mason Plumlee is out
Evan Mobley has been called the perfect center for the modern NBA. The 7-footer is great on defense but he can pass, handle the ball and shoot pretty well from outside on the offensive end for a big guy.
Most draft experts grade Mobley higher than James Wiseman, and he was drafted No. 2 last year by the Golden State Warriors (and who, for some reason, is constantly mentioned in a trade for the No. 1 pick).
Pistons general manager Troy Weaver admits he likes centers. If Detroit had ended up picking second or third, Weaver would have been delighted to end up with Mobley. But being at No. 1, Weaver will have to think about it more.
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If Weaver did decide to go big and take Mobley, it is probably pretty obvious who has to go. The guy who started in the frontcourt who is currently NOT on the Olympic team.
Mason Plumlee has nowhere near the physical gifts, nor the upside, of Mobley. But starting Mobley, like with Suggs, does not give the Pistons offense an immediate boost.
Plumlee was a great passer for a big man (he had two triple-doubles last season) and is very good at setting picks. Those are the kind of things that might not show up in the box score, but help a team score more efficiently. Those are skills that Mobley will have to eventually learn.
Mobley will give the Pistons rim protection on defense but Plumlee was a great rebounder. So the switch to Mobley from Plumlee is not an upgrade in every facet of the game.
And now, what to do with ‘Beef Stew’? Isaiah Stewart made second team NBA all-rookie last year playing center. He began to shoot from outside at the end of the season, to begin the baby steps of a possible move to power forward, but he is not ready yet. Anyhow, you have Grant at power forward.
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It would be an interesting situation for coach Dwane Casey to figure out. How does a lineup of Grant at the 3, Stewart the 4 and Mobley at the 5 sound? Also, Mobley is just 215 pounds, he can play power forward as well.
Casey will have his hands full with all those interchangeable (sort of) lineups.