Real or smokescreen? Pistons’ interest in 4 draft prospects

The Detroit Pistons have been connected to a lot of rumors in the 2022 NBA Draft.

This is mostly because of the possibility of a Jerami Grant trade, which could bring back a second pick in the first round, but there has also been speculation that the Pistons could trade back.

They have a lot of options, especially in a draft where there isn’t a clear-cut consensus on who the top guys are outside of the top-3.

We’ve been reading and hearing various reports about different guys who have worked out for the Pistons, or insiders telling us who the Pistons “love.”

Some of this is just the team doing their due diligence but there is also some gamesmanship involved, as it might benefit the Pistons if a team thinks they are high on a prospect who is atop their Big Board.

Some of the chatter is legit interest and some is a smokescreen that could help Detroit gain some leverage in a trade.

Here are the four players the Detroit Pistons have been connected to the most, and whether that interest real or a smokescreen.

Pistons draft: Interest in the top-4 prospects

In a recent breakdown of expert picks, three names were mentioned the most in connection to the Pistons: Jaden Ivey, Shaedon Sharpe, and Keegan Murray. I am going to add Bennedict Mathurin to this list, as I have seen name connected to Detroit as well.

Let’s start with Mathurin, who is the least likely to be drafted by the Pistons with the 5th pick.

Bennedict Mathurin: Real, but not for the 5th pick

I think Mathurin is a possibility if the Pistons were to trade Jerami Grant and have two picks in the top-10, but he seems a reach with the 5th pick, though CBS and others have put him there in mock drafts.

It’s very likely Mathurin will be there later in the draft, so I see the Pistons’ interest as real, but only if they trade back or get another pick.