3 best NBA Draft fits if the Pistons keep Jerami Grant

The Detroit Pistons are hoping to get a top-3 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft this offseason, and if they do, I have no doubt that they will take the player they think is best, regardless of fit.

But the Pistons have decisions other than the Draft to worry about, as they will also have to decide what to do with Jerami Grant.

It seemed a lock Detroit would trade him, but now I am not so sure, as he has played well with Cade Cunningham and Saddiq Bey since returning from injury and may make the most sense as the third piece of the Pistons’ “Big 3.”

If the Pistons do end up keeping him, it could influence their draft choice, especially if they drop out of the top three.

As I said, I think they will take one of Chet Holmgren, Paolo Banchero or Jabari Smith if they land a top-3 pick, regardless of what happens with Jerami Grant.

But if they drop out of the top-3, or one of the other prospects continues to shine in the NCAA Tournament, we could see the Pistons go in a different direction.

Here are the three best NBA Draft fits if the Pistons do keep Jerami Grant.

Detroit Pistons draft: Best NBA Draft fits with Jerami Grant

Jaden Ivey: Shooting guard, Purdue

Ivey has had a fantastic NCAA Tournament so far and may creep into the top-3 of some scouts’ Big Boards if he has a couple more strong games and leads the Boilermakers deep into the tournament.

If the Pistons keep Grant, then shooting guard becomes their primary need, as Killian Hayes has not shown he can score consistently enough to be counted on for that role.

How does this rotation grab you?

• Cade Cunningham/Killian Hayes
• Jaden Ivey/Frank Jackson
• Saddiq Bey/Hamidou Diallo
• Jerami Grant/Marvin Bagley III
• Isaiah Stewart/Kelly Olynyk

The Pistons’ biggest weakness right now is scoring, so adding a dynamic guard like Ivey would fill that hole and give the Pistons a pretty deep 10-man roster  (assuming they re-sign Bagley III) and that is before getting into free agency.

Are we really sure Ivey isn’t as good as the consensus top-3 right now? I’m not, and if the Pistons can add a Donovan Mitchell type guard to their backcourt, they might be able to compete for the playoffs next season.

Bennedict Mathurin: Shooting guard, Arizona

Mathurin might have played his way into the top-5 of the NBA Draft after his two performances in the tournament so far, the last of which he dropped 30 points and carried the team down the stretch, hitting a ton of big shots.

Mathurin is 6-foot-7 and would give Detroit a huge backcourt and a starting lineup where every guy could switch in the post and on the perimeter.

He’s probably only an option if the Pistons drop out of the top-5, but if they do, he’ll get some consideration.

Johnny Davis: Shooting guard, Wisconsin

Davis had two strong games in the NCAA Tournament though his Badgers were eliminated. He is a smart guard who knows how to get buckets, has great size for the position and is a plus rebounder.

He would also give Detroit a big backcourt with two playmakers who can get their own shot or set up teammates. I love his intangibles, as he is not afraid of taking the big shot and is a high IQ guy who would fit well with Cade Cunningham.

The Detroit Pistons want that top-3 pick of course, but if they don’t get it, Jerami Grant might be here to stay, in which case they should look for a shooting guard who can shore up their biggest weakness and complement the Pistons’ Big 3.