The Detroit Pistons have the second-worst record in the NBA and are hoping to land a top-3 pick in the NBA Draft.
Chet Holmgren, Jabari Smith and Paolo Banchero have somewhat separated themselves from the rest of the field, and if the Pistons do end up getting a top-3 pick, I would bet on one of those guys being in Detroit next season.
But what if they don’t get that top-3 pick?
The field gets a lot murkier after those top three guys, though most scouts have Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren in the mix.
There is one guy who scouts are not sure about, a mystery man in this year’s draft who could end up being the best player.
His name is Shaedon Sharpe, and if the Pistons fall out of the top-3, he should be on their radar.
Detroit Pistons draft: Who is Shaedon Sharpe?
If you haven’t heard of Shaedon Sharpe you are not alone. He chose to enter Kentucky halfway through the season, and has yet to play a game for the Wildcats.
He is practicing with the team now, but there is a good chance he’ll never play a game in NCAA, as he will be eligible for the 2022 NBA Draft and most agree that he’ll enter it.
He could return to Kentucky next season, but he was the number one rated player in the 2022 high school class and no guy that highly rated has ever fallen out of the lottery, so there is a good chance he’ll enter the draft.
The problem is that no one has really seen the guy play outside of the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League, where he stood out as the best player.
He likely won’t have any college or G-League film, so some team is going to have to take a chance on a guy who their scouts have not seen play in live action.
He’s the 2022 NBA Draft’s biggest mystery, but he also might be its best player.
Detroit Pistons 2022 NBA Draft: Shaedon Sharpe’s strengths and weaknesses
Strengths
Sharpe is a 6-foot-5, 200 lb. shooting guard who already has an NBA frame.
He is an explosive athlete and shot maker, who can jump out of the gym and make shots from all over the place.
He also has an impressive wingspan, so imagine Hamidou Diallo but as a dynamic scorer and you are pretty close to what scouts think Shaedon Sharpe will be in the NBA.
He pretty much has the total package of what NBA teams want out of shooting guard, and if he had played in college this season, he’d probably be in the discussion for the number one pick.
Aside from his athletic and scoring ability, his biggest strength might be that teams could potentially get a top of the draft talent at the back end of the lottery, and if the Pistons end up with a second pick (Jerami Grant trade anyone?), he’d be the perfect low risk/high reward choice.
Weaknesses
Sharpe’s biggest weaknesses have nothing to do with what he can do on the court. He’s got all of the physical tools for stardom in the NBA, but not getting a chance to see him play against top competition is a problem.
Usually scouts have a good amount of footage to watch and the draft is still a crapshoot, so some team is really going to be sticking their neck out if they end up taking a guy they’ve never seen play in the top five.
That hasn’t worked often in the past, as guys like Thon Maker look great working out against a trainer but not so much against real players.
It would be a stretch for a Detroit Pistons team that needs to add another impact player from this draft. But if they were to get a second pick, and Sharpe was still there, he is a perfect fit on their roster.
How Shaedon Sharpe fits on the Detroit Pistons
Right now, I’d say the Pistons’ biggest offseason needs in no particular order are:
- Talent (need more everywhere)
- Bouncy big man (Bagley III could be the guy but they need a rim protector/lob catcher)
- Shooting
- Starting caliber shooting guard
Sharpe potentially checks three of those four boxes, as he would offer an injection of high-ceiling talent, shooting and potentially a starting caliber guard.
He’d be the perfect fit with Cade Cunningham theoretically, as he is a high-level shot maker who thrives off the ball, but can also get his own shot.
He’s been compared to guys like Jalen Green and Anthony Edwards, two players the Pistons would love to put next to Cade Cunningham.
He’d give the Pistons a huge backcourt with two dynamic playmakers who complement each other, which would push Killian Hayes to the bench and potentially give them the efficient scorer they need next to Cade.
I think it would be a huge risk for the Detroit Pistons to draft a guy they’ve never seen play, but Sharpe is certainly intriguing and has talent that might be worth the risk if the Pistons drop out of the top three.