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Detroit Pistons NBA Draft: Could Isaiah Livers take Doumbouya’s spot?

By Thomas Chavez

Isaiah Livers #2 of the Michigan Wolverines (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Isaiah Livers #2 of the Michigan Wolverines (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN – FEBRUARY 18: Isaiah Livers #2 of the Michigan Wolverines drives to the basket against Ron Harper Jr. #24 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Crisler Arena on February 18, 2021 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN – FEBRUARY 18: Isaiah Livers #2 of the Michigan Wolverines drives to the basket against Ron Harper Jr. #24 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Crisler Arena on February 18, 2021 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) /

Detroit Pistons: Isaiah Livers provides immediate shooting and forward depth for Detroit

At 6-7 and 230 pounds, Livers is the perfect size for a combo forward in today’s NBA. In the era of small ball, Livers will be able to play the power forward position against most teams in the league. The four spot is where Livers fits best entering the league, but if the Pistons go up against teams with more size, Livers has the versatility to slide into the small forward position as well.

The 23-year-old forward provides much-needed forward depth for Detroit’s rotation. Behind their starters, Saddiq Bey and Jerami Grant, Detroit’s forward depth consists mainly of Josh Jackson and Sekou Doumbouya.

Jackson, while not terrible as a backup small forward, was inconsistent for the Pistons last season. Untimely turnovers and stretches of time where he was ice-cold shooting have made him a serviceable backup at best.

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The 20-year-old Doumbouya was also a very inconsistent player for Detroit last season. However, unlike Jackson, Doumbouya also received very inconsistent minutes as well. While Jackson carved consistent minutes for himself in Detroit, Doumbouya’s playing time varied drastically on a game-to-game basis.

Livers will hopefully be a reliable piece in Detroit’s forward rotations.

One area Livers will immediately help the Pistons in is three-point shooting.

The Pistons were in the bottom half of the league in three-point shooting last season. The team ranked 22nd in both three-pointers made and three-point shooting percentage. Jackson and Doumbouya were some of Detroit’s poorer shooters from beyond the arc last season. Jackson and Doumbouya shot 30 percent and 22.6 percent respectively on three-pointers last season.

Livers comes to Detroit as a 41.2 percent shooter from beyond the arc as a Wolverine. His best shooting season came in his senior year in which he shot 43.1 percent on five three-point attempts per contest.

As he develops the rest of his all-around game, Livers will immediately be one of Detroit’s better shooters from beyond the arc next season. Whether he requires a year of seasoning in the G-League or not is yet to be seen, but if the incoming rookie spends all or most of his time with the Pistons, he will be a great shooting asset for the team.

While the 23-year-old has room to grow into a better player, he will have the opportunity to come to the Detroit Pistons and carve out a depth role for himself.