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

Detroit Pistons: Isaiah Livers’ ceiling is as a role player in the NBA

As versatile and as good a shooter as Livers will be, he is entering the league as a mostly finished product. A finished product with limitations to his game.

The now-former Michigan Wolverine does not possess high-level athleticism, especially for the forward position. He lacks the explosiveness to really beat defenders off the dribble, and he does not possess much of a post-game. It appears that Livers’ offensive game will be limited mostly to perimeter shooting and off-ball cuts to the rim.

His limited athleticism can make him susceptible on defense, especially against quicker players. But with a good team defense around him, his lack of serious athleticism would likely be a non-issue. As a defender, Livers is smart with his positioning. He does a good job of leading opposing players to the help defense. When he is beaten by his opponents he works hard to recover.

The 23-year-old will fit into Detroit’s offense as an off-ball sharpshooter. Livers would make for a solid pick-and-pop forward on screens. He moves well enough off-ball to be utilized coming off of off-ball screens. He will be the optimal target for catch-and-shoot opportunities as well. All-in-all, Livers will spend the majority of his time playing along the perimeter in Detroit’s offense.

Livers will best serve as power forward depth for the Detroit Pistons rotation next season. If Doumbouya takes the next step in his development in his third year in the league, it is possible that Livers could spend a good amount of time playing in the G-League. If Doumbouya continues to struggle with inconsistency, the former Wolverine could find himself filling in as Grant’s backup next season.