Detroit Pistons 2022 NBA Draft, free agency: 4 roster possibilities

Detroit Pistons NBA Draft and free agents: Possible roster in 2022-23

Draft: Jabari Smith- Auburn

Free Agent: Deandre Ayton- Phoenix Suns

Perhaps my favorite duo of the available possibilities is adding Auburn forward Jabari Smith via the draft and nabbing Deandre Ayton from the Suns.

Many think Jabari Smith may end up going number one, as he is putting up impressive numbers at Auburn as a 6-foot-10 forward who is hitting 45 percent from 3-point range this season.

He can rebound, block shots, score from all three levels and would give the Detroit Pistons a ton of lineup possibilities. As a long term fit, I love him with Cade Cunningham and the two could be a deadly pick-and-roll combination on the perimeter with their size and ability to shoot the three-pointer.

Ayton gives the Pistons a real center and a lob threat for Cade Cunningham, while also giving the Pistons some much-needed size. With these two Detroit would go from one of the smallest teams to one of the biggest.

• Cade Cunningham/Saben Lee
• Killian Hayes/Frank Jackson
• Jerami Grant/Saddiq Bey
• Jabari Smith/Kelly Olynyk
• Deandre Ayton/Isaiah Stewart

I really love the idea of drafting a bigger power forward to either replace Jerami Grant if they trade him or push him to small forward if they don’t. This pushes two current starters to the bench, bolstering the Pistons’ overall depth and gives them a big, athletic group that can run, defend and shoot.

This is probably my top choice for the offseason, but there are myriad combinations that could propel the Detroit Pistons out of the cellar.

This year has been somewhat of a disappointment with all of the losses, injuries and illness, but hopefully the Pistons (and the world at large) will be looking a lot better next year.