The Detroit Pistons will have a top-7 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft as well as the 46th pick in the second round.
While there is a consensus about the top-3 of the upcoming draft, the order changes depending on who you ask, and outside of the top-3 is basically a crapshoot.
Most everyone has Chet Holmgren, Paolo Banchero and Jabari Smith at the top of their draft boards in some order, but after that there is a lot of debate.
You have guys like Jaden Ivey, AJ Griffin, Bennedict Mathurin and Keegan Murray, and you could argue all day about which one is best, as they all have intriguing skills flanked by obvious flaws.
That pool just got a little deeper yesterday, as Kentucky wing Shaedon Sharpe announced that he would be entering the 2022 NBA Draft after spending just half a season with Kentucky and not playing a single minute.
Even though Shaedon Sharpe is the draft’s biggest mystery man, someone could end up reaching for him with a pick in the 4-7 range and that team might be the Detroit Pistons.
Pistons draft: Shaedon Sharpe declares for the 2022 NBA Draft
I’ve written before that Sharpe could end up being the best player in this draft even though he will be selected outside of the top-3.
He’s a 6-foot-6 wing with elite athleticism, a quick first step and an already-sophisticated offensive bag that would look great next to Cade Cunningham.
The Pistons could use a boost of athleticism and scoring, two things Sharpe should be able to provide, and he has the type of frame that should eventually lend itself into above-average defense as well.
If the Detroit Pistons do fall out of the top-3, I expect them to take a long look at Sharpe, who would be riskier than some of the other names I mentioned, but potentially has a higher ceiling than any of them.
There was some talk that Sharpe would return to Kentucky for one season, but now that he is for sure in the 2022 NBA Draft, we will see him leapfrog several prospects on draft big boards over the next few weeks.