Real or smokescreen? Pistons’ interest in 4 draft prospects
Pistons draft: Interest in the top-4 prospects
Keegan Murray: Real
Murray seems like a Troy Weaver guy to me, as he is a tough defender with a high motor, and he has a skillset the Pistons desperately need, namely, efficient scoring from all three levels.
A guy who defends multiple spots, runs the floor in transition and can knock down nearly 40 percent of his 3-point shots would fit well with Cade Cunningham, who needs more athletes who can spread the floor around him.
If the Pistons were to trade Grant, Murray would slot in as an immediate replacement and would allow the Pistons to potentially take the best guard available if they got a pick in exchange for Grant.
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Murray is possibly the most NBA-ready player projected to go in the top-5, which might also appeal to a team that wants to add elite talent, but may not want to wait three years for it to develop.
Shaedon Sharpe: Smokescreen
Although Sharpe is certainly an intriguing prospect, it’s hard to see the Pistons rolling the dice on him with the 5th pick.
If they were to trade back or get a second pick, then Sharpe would certainly be an option but Weaver has to walk away from this draft with at least one guy who can contribute next season, and Sharpe may not be that guy.
That being said, if Weaver thinks he’s the best player, he’ll take him, but with such limited film and footage to look at, Sharpe has the biggest boom/bust potential of projected lottery picks.
Sharpe is a guy who will have more appeal the further he falls, so if a team like New Orleans (who doesn’t need a player to contribute right away and had Sharpe for a workout recently) or San Antonio really wants him, then Detroit could possibly move back and grab extra assets.
But they gain leverage if those teams think the Pistons are high on him, so it makes sense to see them connected, even if Detroit has no plans to take him with the 5th pick.
Now that I have written this, the Pistons will probably take Sharpe, but adding a guy who hasn’t played above high school seems too big a risk for a top-5 pick.