Way too early 2022 NBA Mock Draft: Pistons fall to 3rd
2022 NBA Mock Draft: Pick #3- Detroit Pistons get their guy anyway
Scouting Report. Jabari Smith. 64. Pick Analysis. Forward. Auburn / Detroit Pistons. 3. player
I recently put Jabari Smith atop my updated Pistons 2022 NBA Draft big board and if this is how it played out, I’d be pretty happy.
There are some concerns about his ability to put the ball on the floor and score in the paint, but otherwise, Smith would be an ideal fit with Cade Cunningham as a 6-foot-10 forward with a smooth shooting stroke who is hitting nearly 45 percent from long range.
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The Pistons could use both his size and his shooting, and depending on what they do with Jerami Grant, could give them a long and versatile starting lineup that would create matchup problems all over the place.
I especially like the potential of Smith and Cunningham in the pick and roll, as their length and shooting ability would make them very tough to stop.
I’ve heard some concerns about Smith’s lateral movement on defense, but if he is playing power forward, that shouldn’t matter as much.
It’s possible the Pistons could go with a guard here, which might not be the worst idea given Killian Hayes has struggled as a scorer and may be best utilized off the bench as the primary ball handler, but the Pistons are too small already and need a big, especially if they have plans to trade Grant.