2022 NBA Draft: Who the Pistons would take with each pick
We are now just days away from the 2022 NBA Draft lottery and the Detroit Pistons are once again hoping to land the #1 pick.
But they could drop as far as 7th in the worst-case scenario, which wouldn’t be ideal in a draft that is projected to have a big drop-off after the top three or four picks.
Draft analysis is certainly not an exact science, so the Detroit Pistons can find a quality player outside of the top-3, but the odds dip significantly.
The Pistons have been tight lipped as usual, so there is no indication of which way they are leaning if they do land the #1 overall pick.
Here is my best guess for who the Pistons would take with each of the top seven picks.
2022 NBA Draft: Who the Pistons would take with the top-7 picks
Auburn. 64. Power forward. Jabari Smith. 1. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis
A lot of experts think Chet Holmgren is the pick here, but I think Smith’s combination of shooting and perimeter defense will get him the nod.
The chance to pair Cade Cunningham with a 6-foot-10 shooter who can defend will be too tempting to pass up, even though Holmgren projects as a better rim protector, which is a skill the Pistons also need.
To be honest, if the Pistons do land the #1 pick, I wouldn’t be shocked at all if they traded back while staying in the top-4. This could be one of those situations where the Pistons can pick up some assets and get the guy they like anyway.
Any of the top 3-4 guys are nice fits, so I’d be ok with the Pistons trading out of this spot if they go it, but if not, Jabari Smith is the safest bet.