Michigan State’s Marcus Bingham Jr. a Detroit Pistons possibility?
Could Marcus Bingham Jr. help the Detroit Pistons?
A team where there is no pressure to win now, with an environment where players can develop at their own pace, would be ideal for Bingham. That sounds a lot like the culture of the Detroit Pistons.
He recently had a workout for the Toronto Raptors, an organization that likes long, lanky defensive-oriented players, so that also might be a good place for Bingham.
As for the Pistons, general manager Troy Weaver had had no problems going for local players. He drafted Isaiah Livers, who played four years at Michigan, in the second-round last year.
As someone, like Livers, who has played his entire career in the state of Michigan, Bingham would probably love to go to the Pistons.
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Detroit has the 46th overall pick in the second round of the draft, and Bingham should still be available there. If Detroit selects someone else, they could do what happened with Jamorko Pickett last year, and have a deal ready for him to sign, if he goes undrafted.
Where would Bingham fit on Pistons roster?
Starting center Isaiah Stewart is not going anywhere. However, power forward might be his natural position, and he gets in foul trouble a lot, so Detroit needs depth at center.
Bagley is a restricted free agent and Kelly Olynyk could be part of a trade, and both play center, Of course, there is Bingham’s old Big 10 rival, Luka Garza, who starred at Iowa. Detroit has a team option on Garza for next season, but they do not have to make a decision on him until after the draft.
Detroit might have a crowded field at center going into training camp, or they might really need a big body, depending on what happens in the next few months. When you go 23-59, the roster is not going to be set in stone.
Overall assessment
Marcus Bingham, even though he will soon be 22, is one of those ‘potential’, ‘have something if he figures it out’ and ‘high ceiling’ draft types.
He is not ready to be an NBA starter from Day One, but he has a lot of skills of NBA centers who have played many years.
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The bottom line is, Bingham has a skill – rim running protector – that is valued in the NBA, and no one on the Pistons currently has that capability. He certainly will be on some team’s NBA Summer League team, whether he is drafted or not.. So look for him in Vegas.