The Detroit Pistons have a number of needs they could try to fill in the second round of the 2022 NBA Draft.
The second round is usually where teams either try to address a need with an upperclassman with one playable NBA skill or shoot for the moon on potential.
The Pistons need another big man, an influx of talent at guard behind Cade Cunningham, and a backup wing who can either shoot, defend or hopefully both.
There is one high-upside wing out of UCLA whose numbers are not going to jump out at you but has the physical skills to be a very good wing defender.
Detroit Pistons draft: Peyton Watson’s strengths and weaknesses
You have to look beyond the numbers to see the potential for UCLA wing Peyton Watson, who stands at 6-foot-8 and weighs 200 lbs.
He only played just over 12 minutes per game for UCLA this season as a freshman, and some scouts were surprised that he even declared for the draft. He only averaged 3.3 points per game and had terrible shooting numbers, so it makes sense to wonder if he should go back to school for another year.
But this is a guy who has elite athleticism, great size and length and has shown the potential to be a very good defender on the wing.
He’s also a good facilitator, as he played point forward in high school, so if Watson makes the NBA, it will be as a guy who can defend and make plays, as the other parts of his offensive game are not there yet.
Namely, he needs to improve drastically as a shooter, as he hit just 32 percent from the floor this season and a woeful 22 percent from 3-point range.
He can jump out of the gym and run the floor, so he projects as a defense/energy guy who can come into a game and be disruptive with this athleticism.
2022 NBA Draft: How Peyton Watson fits on the Pistons
The Detroit Pistons have an athletic bricklayer already in Hamidou Diallo, but he is set to make just over $5 million in 2022-23 and the Pistons have a team option that they may decide not to exercise.
While Watson doesn’t profile as a guy who will come into the NBA and play right away, he could eventually play a similar role to Diallo, albeit on a much lower contract.
The Detroit Pistons seem to like long, versatile wings who can defend in the later parts of the draft and look to have found a good one in Isaiah Livers.
Watson would give the Pistons an athletic and versatile wing to develop, and they’d be taking the risk that he’s got several more levels to his game, as he was a highly-touted college recruit.
I like the idea of taking high-ceiling guys who may take longer to figure it out, as Watson could be a valuable 3-and-D guy if and when his shot improves.
For more of our comprehensive 2022 NBA Draft coverage, click here.