The 2022 NBA Draft is going to be an interesting one for the Detroit Pistons.
While there is a consensus about the top-3-4 guys, after that it is basically a crapshoot, with a lot of scouts believing there will be minimal difference between a late lottery pick and a second rounder.
That means the Detroit Pistons can still find value with the 46th pick and hopefully add another rotation player as they did last season with Isaiah Livers.
Livers was an upperclassman and the Pistons could go that route again, especially after the success of guys like Herbert Jones, who was an older second-round pick who ended up starting for a playoff team this season.
The Draft seems to get deeper with quality players every year and the Pistons will be looking to find one with their 46th pick.
Detroit Pistons draft: Keon Ellis
Keon Ellis is a 6-foot-6 shooting guard from Alabama, who wasn’t really on draft radars last season, but is now after a strong senior campaign.
Ellis averaged 12.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists for Alabama this season while shooting 36 percent from long range on 5.5 attempts per game.
He’ll be over 22-years-old at the time of the draft, so should come into the NBA with a little more experience and maturity.
The Detroit Pistons definitely need upgrades at guard, as currently they have just Killian Hayes and Frank Jackson as the backups. While Hayes is still a 20-year-old developmental project, Jackson is a 23-year-old who regressed and could be replaced with a bigger, cheaper option.
Keon Ellis has an interesting skillset that could benefit the Detroit Pistons, who could use an injection of size, defense and shooting at the guard position.
2022 NBA Draft: Keon Ellis’ strengths and weaknesses
Keon Ellis transferred to Alabama from Florida SouthWestern State College after his sophomore season, so this is a guy who had to grind just to get into Division 1.
He’s a hard worker who is projected to go anywhere from the end of the 1st round to the middle of the 2nd, so he could be there when the Pistons choose.
He’s got great size for the position at 6-foot-6, and like former teammate Herb Jones, is adept at using his length to get steals. He’s not as good a defender as Jones, but comes from that mold, as he is very athletic and can be disruptive on that end.
He also shot the ball pretty well from range and profiles as a guy who will shoot above league average on 3-pointers.
If Ellis makes it as an NBA rotation player it will be because he can guard multiple spots effectively and knock down 3-pointers. He moves well without the ball, and if he can show he can knock down the three, he’ll get a shot in the league.
He does need to get stronger, and is not a guy who is going to score a lot of points in traffic or play through contact.
His ceiling would be a Danny Green-type, a lengthy guard/wing who can defend all over and knock down a corner three-pointer.
Pistons draft: How Keon Ellis fits in Detroit
I would like to see the Pistons try to upgrade their backup shooting guard position with someone who has size and can actually, you know, shoot.
Frank Jackson hit 30 percent of his 3-point shots this season, so if the Pistons feel they can upgrade on the cheap in the second round, they may decide to decline Jackson’s team option.
A guy like Ellis would fit the bill, as Detroit needs wing defenders, and though Ellis is not considered elite in that department yet, he is a very good athlete who could get there if he dedicates himself on that end.
Ellis would fit in as a backup to whoever they end up with at starting shooting guard (either a draft pick or free agent) and would give the Pistons another versatile, tall wing who can guard 2-3 spots and knock down a 3-point shot.
Ellis is not great off the bounce, but he can hit the catch-and-shoot 3-point shot and has very good range, as you can see here.
It’s possible that he will be long gone by the time the Pistons choose at 46, as he is going to impress scouts in workouts with his athleticism and shooting, but if he is still there, he’s a guy who would be a great fit in Detroit.
You can check out our entire second-round draft series here.