The Detroit Pistons have four picks in the 2021 NBA Draft and could use them in a number of ways.
It’s likely the Pistons will take Cade Cunningham with the first overall pick, even though myriad rumors have been floating around.
The best rumored offer was reportedly from OKC, but even this godfather offer would be silly to take, as the Detroit Pistons are still far from contention and will have more cap space next offseason to use on free agents.
I do think there are factors that will lead to a huge number of trades this offseason, and the Pistons could be one of the teams moving some parts around as they try to fine-tune their roster and possibly move up in the draft.
I tried to identify possible draft sleepers who are projected at various points in the second round or late first, as the Pistons will either be using their own picks at 37, 42 and 52 or trying to use them to move into the late first round.
Here are five guys who I think will be better than their current draft projection.
Detroit Pistons: 2021 NBA Draft sleeper, Juhann Bégarin
Juhann Bégarin is a guy I’ve profiled before, and one that I think should be on the Pistons’ radar in the second round.
Bégarin comes out of France, a country that is evolving into an international powerhouse in basketball and just defeated Team USA in the first game of the Tokyo Olympics.
Bégarin is definitely a raw prospect, and one of the youngest in the NBA Draft at just age 18, but he already has an NBA frame at 6-foot-5 with a 7-foot wingspan.
He is an elite athlete with bounce and a lot of strength, which he more or less uses to bully defenders right now. He doesn’t have much of a shot, but he can use his physical advantages to get where he wants on the floor and finish.
You can watch some highlights of the flying Frenchman here.
Shooting is the one thing most players improve but you can’t teach this kind of athleticism, so Bégarin seems like a great draft-and-stash candidate.
Player comparison: Lonnie Walker