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
Detroit Pistons: 2021 NBA Draft sleeper, Usman Garuba
Usman Garuba is an international prospect who is often projected in the late first or early second round, but might have lottery talent.
He’s a 6-foot-8 power forward out of Spain who has a huge wingspan and endless motor on defense.
Though his offensive game is still raw, he has shown signs of eventually developing a jump shot and he is already a guy who runs the floor well and gets a lot of dunks in transition and on put backs.
He’s a defender who is tailor made for the modern game, as he can defend all over the floor and has the quickness to be able to switch on the perimeter. He can guard 1-5 pretty effectively, which is what a lot of teams are looking for as more and more bigs step outside of the paint.
If he can develop a jumper, he is going to be a weapon, and teams are going to love his intensity.
Player comparison: Bam Adebayo, Kenneth Faried
Detroit Pistons: 2021 NBA Draft sleeper, Miles McBride
Miles McBride is a projected second rounder who could be an absolute steal.
He fits the culture and mold of what the Detroit Pistons are trying to build almost perfectly, as he is a very good defender with a long wingspan that should allow him to guard multiple spots in the perimeter.
The Pistons are building a very switchable team full of guys who are committed on the defensive end, and McBride should be one of the best on-the-ball defenders in the entire draft, as he averaged nearly two steals a game in college.
I also love that he can shoot the 3-ball, hitting 41 percent from long range in his final season at West Virginia. He’s only 6-foot-2 but has a massive 6-foot-8 wingspan, which is something Troy Weaver definitely likes.
He’s a leader who does a bit of everything and can play either on or off the ball, so he’d be an asset to any team’s bench right away.
Player comparison: Poor man’s Kyle Lowry
Detroit Pistons: 2021 NBA Draft sleeper, Rokas Jokubaitis
In a recent Q&A, James Edwards III from The Athletic identified Rokas Jokubaitis as one of the guys to watch if he falls to the second round, as he could be one of the best international prospects in this draft.
Jokubaitis is one of those crafty left-handed combo guards who doesn’t have the greatest athleticism, but is a magician with the ball and can do pretty much everything well skill-wise.
He is very good in the pick-and-roll and is a creative finisher around the rim and has an improving long-range shot.
I really like watching this guy play, as he isn’t super quick but has all of the hesitation moves and Euro steps to keep defenders off balance and get where he wants to on the floor.
I like him as a playmaker off the bench, a guy who can come in an be a spark either getting to the rim or setting up teammates. He has the potential to be the best international guard in the NBA Draft.
Player comparison: Manu Ginobli (yes, I know it’s easy to choose a left-handed white guy but their games are similar)
Detroit Pistons: 2021 NBA Draft sleeper, Daishen Nix
This is the year of the G-League, as several of the top prospects, guys like Jalen Green and Jonathan Kuminga, skipped college and went straight to the pros.
Daishen Nix is a guy who is often overshadowed because of Green and Kuminga, but he has a chance to be a very good player who fits Troy Weaver’s vision.
Nix is a big guard who is already a very good playmaker, defender and rebounder. The problem is that he can’t shoot. He is very good at using his strength and size (he’s 6-foot-4, 225 lbs.) to finish at the rim, often through contact, but he’s not a guy who is going to jump out of the gym.
He also has very good court vision, is a solid passer and has the size to really rebound his position well. He can guard 1-3 effectively and may be able to do even more, as he has great size.
Nix is not a good outside shooter, but that is something that can improve over time, as we’ve seen with current Detroit Piston Frank Jackson, who put in the work and evolved into a plus 3-point shooter.
He’s a physical player but could probably stand to get in better shape, which he almost certainly will. I love him for the Detroit Pistons with one of their late second-round picks.
Player comparison: Marcus Smart