Detroit Pistons draft: 5 prospects to watch in the NCAA Final Four

The Detroit Pistons currently have the third-worst record in the NBA and would love nothing more than to land a top-3 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.

They are just a half game behind OKC after beating them last night and just three games behind the Pacers, who they play next, so the Pistons’ lottery odds are not yet decided.

If they do land a top-3 pick, they will likely select Chet Holmgren, Jabari Smith or Paolo Banchero, but right now they could fall as far as 7th, and if they do, all options are on the table.

There is also a chance the Pistons will trade Jerami Grant this offseason, which could land them another lottery pick to work with.

They still have a 2nd-round pick coming from the Nets, so the Detroit Pistons will have their eyes on more than just the top guys.

Here are five prospects to keep an eye on during tonight’s Final Four games.

Detroit Pistons draft: 2022 NBA Draft prospects in the Final Four

Kansas vs. Villanova

This is an interesting game between two strong and deep teams that aren’t really led by top NBA Draft prospects.

Villanova does not have a guy projected to go in the first or even second round, while Kansas has one potential lottery pick and one guy who could go late in the first or early in the 2nd according to most Big Boards.

Christian Braun: Shooting guard, Kansas

Braun is a 6-foot-7 junior who is projected to go late in the first round or early in the second round of the 2022 NBA Draft.

He has a nice shooting stroke and has consistently knocked them down from long range all season, logging 39 percent on 3-pointers.

He’d be another Isaiah Livers type of pick who could provide another 3-and-D option off the bench.

Ochai Agbaji: Shooting guard, Kansas

Agbaji is an interesting guy, as he is a senior who will be 22-years-old at the time of the draft. He has an NBA skill (3-point shooting) that will play in just about anyone’s rotation but would probably only be an option for the Pistons if they grabbed a second first-round pick or he somehow fell to the second round, which is unlikely.

He shoots 39.7 percent from long range on 6.5 attempts per game and will be a guy who should be able to play right away.

Duke vs. North Carolina

This couldn’t have worked out any better for the NCAA Tournament organizers, who already got a Coach K vs. Michigan State game and now get a final game for the legendary coach against rival UNC.

Most of the prospects in this one are on Duke, but UNC does have one interesting option for the second round.

Caleb Love: Point guard, North Carolina

The Detroit Pistons don’t really need another point guard, but if they wanted to trade out a guy like Saben Lee for someone who can shoot, Love could be an option in the late second round, as he has hit 37 percent this season on high volume and projects as a guy who will have a 3-point shot at the next level.

He would be a project and may not even come out, but if he does, I could see the Pistons taking a late flyer to develop him in the G-League.

Mark Williams: Center, Duke

A bucket getter at the rim who would provide some efficiency and scoring from the center position. He’s a 7-footer who blocks nearly three shots per game, so would fill multiple needs for the Detroit Pistons and would definitely be an option if they were to acquire a second pick near the end of the lottery or just out of it.

AJ Griffin: Forward, Duke

Griffin projects to be one of the best 3-point shooters in this draft, as the 18-year-old freshman is hitting 45 percent of his shots from long range on over four attempts per game.

He has good size for the position, though there are questions about his foot speed, and would be an option for the Detroit Pistons if they fell outside of the top-4 in the 2022 NBA Draft.

Paolo Banchero: Forward, Duke

Banchero has probably been the most impressive of the top prospects so far in the NCAA Tournament and can help himself even more with a strong performance tonight.

He is the guy Cade Cunningham wants and Cade might be right, as Banchero possesses a rare combination of size, athleticism and skill that almost make him a lock to be an impact player at the next level.

You can argue that Chet Holmgren’s ceiling is higher or that Jabari Smith’s floor is higher, but it’s fun to imagine what Cade and Paolo might be like as a duo in the pick and roll, as both can shoot, handle the ball and have the size to create mismatches.