Detroit Pistons draft: 3 options for the 5th and 7th pick

As the possibilities of what to do with the fifth pick grow by the day, one scenario gaining traction involves the Detroit Pistons acquiring an additional lottery pick inside the top ten.

Jerami Grant has cemented himself as an integral piece of Detroit’s current roster. It’s no secret, however, that Detroit has explored the possibility of trading him, particularly within the last year. Portland has remained a longstanding destination in trade rumors for Grant. With the Blazers currently holding the seventh pick, rumors continue to swirl around Grant’s departure.

While both sides would likely have to be crafty to directly pull the deal off, Detroit acquiring the Blazers’ lottery pick would give them significant leverage in this year’s draft.

Although there’s a chance Grant will stay put in Detroit, or be dealt to another franchise later in the summer, a trade with Portland centered around their seventh overall pick is intriguing. Not only would it give Detroit two picks within the top ten in a draft laden with talent, it could also entice teams selecting ahead to consider swapping with Detroit.

Here are three possible scenarios for the Pistons if they were to acquire the Blazers’ pick, and select fifth and seventh in the 2022 NBA Draft.

Detroit Pistons: Options for the 5th and 7th picks in the 2022 NBA Draft

Option #1

Keegan Murray at #5

Shaedon Sharpe at #7

In this scenario, the Detroit Pistons get a win-win inside the top ten, by picking a player with a high floor who can come in and contribute immediately, and a player with immense upside.

While many teams struggle to find a player with enough upside to gamble on, or enough skill to produce from day one, the Pistons would be able to acquire both within the first ten picks of this year’s draft.

Keegan Murray is the quintessential modern day forward, and should fit nicely alongside Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart in the Pistons’ frontcourt. With a great shooting stroke, smooth footwork in the post, and the ability to run the floor and play on the perimeter, Murray should bring tons of versatility to a lineup that already boasts plenty of length.

Although he’ll turn 22 before the start of the season, there’s a possibility that Murray is far from a finished product, and could possibly have a higher ceiling than what most scouts are projecting, particularly if he’s placed within the right system. With Murray exhibiting so many different skills at Iowa this past season, it’ll be intriguing to see what facets of his game can be unlocked at the NBA level, and how he’ll continue to evolve.

At the very least, Detroit would gain a young forward with one of the highest floors in the draft, along with a skillset that could be plugged into various lineups, and a new foundational piece to Detroit’s young frontcourt.

While it’s no secret that Sharpe is the draft’s biggest wild card, the former number one ranked high school star has had a meteoric rise from his senior year of high school to now, despite having never played a game in college.

At 6-foot-5, 215 pounds, Sharpe has the frame of a prototypical shooting guard, and boasts plenty of athleticism that he’s showcased in recent workouts. While there were mixed opinions about his pro day, Sharpe’s skillset, size, and athleticism should keep him inside the top ten, and could possibly vault him into the top five.

For the Detroit Pistons, selecting Sharpe would likely require bringing the guard along slowly, and remaining patient with the eighteen year old’s development over the next few seasons. However, with the recent success and development of the Pistons’ young players, drafting Sharpe could be worth the risk if the Pistons are confident enough in cultivating his game within their system.