Detroit Pistons: Biggest sleeper and other 2022 NBA Draft predictions

Detroit Pistons: Predictions for the 2022 NBA Draft

The Andrew Wiggins award will go to…

Andrew Wiggins was taken #1 overall and never really lived up to the hype even though he is now an NBA champion and one of the best 3-and-D wings in the game.

This is a guy who was a big part of a title team, shoots nearly 40 percent from 3-point range and is a very good perimeter defender, yet he doesn’t get the credit he deserves because he is not a “superstar” which were the expectations coming into the NBA.

Wiggins came into the league with otherworldly athleticism and it just took him some time to hone it, which is why he just made his first All-Star team at age 26.

To me, Shaedon Sharpe looks like the next Wiggins, as he too is crazy athletic, but might need some time to make it all come together. If Sharpe goes in the top-5, he will likely end up on a rebuilding team and probably isn’t going to be good right away.

Just like Wiggins, that will set his narrative, as impatient Twitter NBA fans, who have the attention spans of fruit flies, will declare him a “bust” if he doesn’t average 20 a game in his rookie season.

Down the road, Sharpe, like Wiggins, will likely be a very good two-way wing, but also like Wiggins, probably won’t get credit because he is not “elite.”

If the Detroit Pistons end up taking Sharpe, expect that narrative to flourish, especially if one of the players taken after him is good right away.