Michigan forward Moussa Diabate was ranked as one of the top five forward prospects as a five-star recruit to the Michigan Wolverines, and with a second-round pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, he could stay in the Great Lakes State if the Detroit Pistons decided to take a flyer.
Diabate was supposed to be the best young player on the overhyped Michigan squad, but he was only a part-time starter for the Maize and Blue. Diabate declared for the 2022 NBA Draft but maintained his college eligibility.
Diabate is slated to be a second-round pick despite his potential and hype out of high school. On paper he can score off the dribble, is an elite rebounder for his size, is a gifted defender, and a very good athlete.
As with most 20-year-old prospects, he could add weight to improve his post game and needs to work on his defensive discipline, as he has trouble switching off when needed. His midrange game has flashes of DeMar DeRozan, and he has the potential to be the above-the-rim athlete the Pistons want.
Detroit Pistons draft: Is Moussa Diabate overhyped?
However, his statlines don’t exactly fit with the promise surrounding him. At Michigan, he averaged nine points and six boards this season, which is usually underwhelming for a potential NBA player. Based on the games I watched and the averages he put up over the season, I would say that he should return to Michigan and increase his draft stock. NBA front offices nominated 60 players to attend the NBA Combine, with Diabate being one of them. By that logic, the freshmen should be one of the top 60 players eligible to be drafted, meaning he should get drafted, even if it is near the end of the evening.
Personally, I think he will ultimately return to Michigan for a season or two and try to become a fringe lottery pick. He has the skillset, he just needs to get better, and he will with age. That being said, there are a lot of upsides if the Detroit Pistons take him.
He is a floor-running forward who fills a position of need, is a local talent, and will drastically improve with NBA coaching. A summer of NBA workouts is probably more valuable than multiple seasons in college, and he’ll open the season heavier, stronger, and more disciplined. Even if it takes time, he has been compared to Al Harrington, which would make him a steal if he’s picked at 46. Considering the upside, risky picks are what the second round is for, and the connections are there to make him a star in the Motor City.
For our entire 2022 NBA Draft series, click here.