The Detroit Pistons will have the 46th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft and there are some intriguing prospects in that range.
The pool of second round and undrafted players just keeps getting deeper every year, as upperclassman and international prospects give teams options outside of the elite guys at the top.
When you see Herbert Jones (second round) and Jose Alvarado (undrafted) playing clutch-time minutes for the Pelicans in the playoffs, it shows that impact players can be found well outside of the lottery.
What you are looking for in the second round is a guy who either has one elite NBA skill already, or someone whose overall game and impact on winning might be overlooked because he is a bit older.
The Detroit Pistons took a flyer on such a player last season in Isaiah Livers, who now looks like a lock for the rotation next season. Livers was not only an upperclassman, but was coming off an injury, so the Pistons were able to get a first-round talent in the second round.
Could Troy Weaver do it again in the 2022 NBA Draft?
Pistons draft: Needs in the second round
The Detroit Pistons had one of the worst offenses in the league this season, so adding shooting and scoring will be a priority.
If the Pistons strike out on the top free agents, they could also use their second-round pick on a big man who can either stretch the floor or protect the rim.
If I had to guess, I’d say the Pistons will take a flyer on another guy like Livers, a versatile wing with size who is a little bit older and might be able to come in and contribute right away.
One such player is junior Jalen Williams out of Santa Clara, who could bolster the Pistons’ scoring and is a guy who could compete for a two-way contact or a spot in the rotation right away.