Detroit Pistons: Are we sure there is a “Big 3” in the 2022 NBA Draft?

The Detroit Pistons dropped to 5th in the 2022 NBA Draft, but here is a good chance they will still get one of the top players.

Fans were disappointed, as the 2022 NBA Draft has been sold as one with a consensus top three and then a big drop-off. We do this pretty much every year, pretending that we can make sense of an event that is essentially a crapshoot.

Every year we act like there is only one way the draft can go and every year there are outliers, busts who were taken in the top three and stars that fell out of it.

This was the case last draft, when the Raptors took Scottie Barnes with the 4th pick, much to the surprise of everyone. After all, Jalen Suggs was a consensus top-4 guy, we all knew it and we all wrote and talked about it as if it were already fact. It wasn’t and the Raptors drafted the Rookie of the Year outside the top three.

Two draft experts think the same could happen again this year, as we have pencilled in Chet Holmgren, Jabari Smith and Paolo Banchero as the top three guys, but are we sure this isn’t just another draft narrative that everyone ran with?

Two draft experts think that are four players who could end up being the best player, and that the Detroit Pistons would be a great destination for two of them.

Detroit Pistons draft: The debate about the top-3 of the 2022 NBA Draft

Jonathan Givony and Mike Schmitz (who was recently hired as the assistant GM in Portland) of ESPN (SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED) recently wrote about the four guys who they think could end up being better than the Big 3 and which teams would be the best fit for them.

Here are the names they mentioned along with the teams where they would thrive:

• Jaden Ivey (Detroit Pistons)

"“Detroit (No. 5) looks like the best fit in the top five, as franchise centerpiece Cade Cunningham would benefit from not being asked to create his own shot on every possession. With a slasher like Ivey alongside him, Cunningham could utilize his excellent shot-making prowess and ability to attack closeouts more consistently.”"

• Keegan Murray (Sacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers, Portland Trail Blazers)
• Dyson Daniels (Sacramento Kings, Portland Trail Blazers)
• Shaedon Sharpe (Detroit Pistons)

"“The Pistons (No. 5) are the first team that come to mind as there’s a need for another dynamic shot-creator alongside Cade Cunningham. Cunningham could use a backcourt mate with more juice off the bounce, as the former No. 1 overall pick does most of his damage thanks to his size, feel, pace and skill. The Pistons also aren’t bad enough for the 18-year-old Sharpe to develop too many bad habits during his rookie year, as he’d be held accountable to try defensively and play the right way.”"

I find it interesting that they felt the Detroit Pistons were the best fit for two of the guys, a testament to Cade Cunningham and his versatile game, as he is a fit with any of the top Pistons prospects.

I also found it fascinating that Keegan Murry was not listed as a fit on the Pistons, as they are clearly looking at the roster without considering the possible Jerami Grant trade, which would change things dramatically.

In a draft with so many unknowns, the Detroit Pistons could very likely snag a top guy outside of the top three.