Detroit Pistons: 2 players you won’t see for a while

Detroit Pistons: Isaiah Livers putting one foot forward

Livers, as fans of Michigan basketball know, injured his right foot in the Big 10 Tournament opener and sat out the rest of the season. He was diagnosed with a stress fracture and had surgery on April 2.

Because of the surgery, Livers did not participate in any pre-draft combines or workouts. But the Pistons still drafted the 6-foot-7 forward as the 42nd pick overall in the NBA Draft.

Why would Detroit draft a player who walked with a boot at the time? Shooting. Livers was a career 41-percent shooter on three-pointers with the Wolverines, 43% as a senior. The Pistons top priority in the off-season was acquiring shooters (who can play defense).

Since Detroit is still in a rebuilding process, they can afford to wait for Livers to heal. He has said he hopes to be back on the court by November.

Livers will probably start play with the Motor City Cruise in the G-League, to scrape off the rust but he has a full NBA contract. When he is ready, the 6-7, 230-pound forward will move up to the Pistons.

If his three-point stroke is as strong as in college, Livers will eventually find a spot in coach Dwane Casey’s rotation. He has a similar style to starting small forward Saddiq Bey, so he would be a natural sub for the first team All-Rookie selection.

Livers could also play some small-ball power forward. With defenses having to guard him on the perimeter, due to his shooting ability, he could open up the floor for the likes of Cade Cunningham and Hamidou Diallo.

Livers is a player who eventually should be a factor for the Pistons.