Pistons draft: A 3-and-D prospect if Detroit gets a 2nd first-round pick

The Detroit Pistons are hoping to secure a top-3 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, but it’s also possible that they will add a second first rounder.

The Pistons have to make a decision on Jerami Grant, and if they decide to trade him, they could end up with another lottery pick to go with their own.

Portland is a rumored suitor, and it makes sense, as they will try to reload around Damian Lillard and have two picks in this year’s draft (as long as the pick they are owed from New Orleans does not fall in the top-4). Grant and Lillard are also friends after playing together on Team USA.

Currently the Blazers would have the 6th and 12th picks in the 2022 NBA Draft, though that could obviously change depending on the ping pong balls of the lottery.

Even if the Pistons don’t trade Grant, they could still reap another 1st-round pick by using their cap space to absorb a contract and help facilitate a 3-way trade in exchange for a pick.

So let’s assume Detroit ends up with a second 1st-round pick somewhere in the 12-15 range. What would they do with it?

Detroit Pistons draft: A prospect in the Troy Weaver mold

A player we’ve not heard much about is combo forward Tari Eason from LSU, who jumped up draft boards after having a breakout sophomore season.

The 6-foot-8 forward can do a little bit of everything and is already very good defensively, with great length and athleticism that allows him to defend four spots. He averages more than a block per game and also adds nearly two steals.

He makes a lot of hustle plays and is the type of tough, hard-working player that Troy Weaver seems to covet.

To me, you can never have enough versatile wings, and Eason would give the Pistons another guy with great size and strength who can defend all over the floor and make plays.

This highlight shows a lot of what Eason brings, as he hustles to chase down Jabari Smith of Auburn, gets the steal and then takes it back the other way for the finish.

In the next two plays, you’ll see him get into the passing lane for a steal, and also nab one in traffic, both of which he takes coast-to-coast for dunks.

Eason is very good at getting to the rim and can be a force in transition once he gets going downhill.

He also shot 36 percent on 2.4 attempts per game from 3-point range and looks very comfortable on the perimeter. He’s not a lights-out shooter but projects as a guy who will be able to nail the corner three, get buckets off cuts and fast breaks and keep the ball moving in the half court with smart passes.

His 3-point shooting improved tremendously after his transfer from Cincinnati to LSU and he should keep improving with more reps and better spacing.

I know a lot of fans want the Detroit Pistons to get another big man, but if they do end up trading Grant or acquiring a second 1st-round pick, a guy like Eason would be a fit, as he will take on tough defensive assignments, bring energy off the bench and potentially replace some of Grant’s perimeter defense.

The Pistons are going to be a busy team this offseason and it will be interesting to see what types of players they target if they get a second lottery pick.