The Detroit Pistons will choose 5th in the 2022 NBA Draft and their decision may come down to the answer to one question.
High ceiling or high floor?
There is a good chance that Jabari Smith, Chet Holmgren, Paolo Banchero and Jaden Ivey will be off the board when the Pistons chose, as the top-3 seems more or less set and there are a number of teams interested in trading up to get Ivey.
There is also the OKC Thunder, who are the real wild card in this draft with three picks in the first round. They are reportedly also going to be “aggressive” when it comes to pursuing Ivey and have the assets to trade for the Kings’ 4th pick and potentially screw over the Pistons.
Most draft experts believe the Pistons’ choice will come down to Jaden Ivey, Keegan Murray, Shaedon Sharpe and Bennedict Mathurin, and if Ivey is off the board, the betting odds are with either Murray or Sharpe.
These two players represent the high floor vs. high ceiling debate for the Detroit Pistons in the 2022 NBA Draft.
Detroit Pistons draft: High floor
Keegan Murray is considered one of the safest and most NBA ready players in this year’s draft. He has a well-rounded game on both ends and is already 21-years-old, so should be physically ready from day one.
Though he put up huge overall numbers last season, his age has some questioning if he has another level or if he already is who he is. I think this is a bit ridiculous, as it’s like like he’s 35-years-old or something.
He was a late bloomer who had a huge growth spurt that turned him from a guard into a forward, so Murray almost certainly has another level and could end up being the best player in this draft despite perceptions.
The Detroit Pistons would like to win sooner rather than later with Cade Cunningham and don’t want him to spend his first 3-4 years in the league on terrible teams full of nothing but young players.
Murray is almost certain to be a solid NBA player who would help the Detroit Pistons get better, but is he the second star they need?
Detroit Pistons draft: High ceiling
Shaedon Sharpe represents the other end of this debate, as he is a relative unknown who hasn’t played since high school but has eye-popping athleticism and is considered one of the highest-ceiling talents in the draft.
But he just turned 19-years-old and hasn’t played in over a year, as he decided not to suit up for Kentucky at all this season.
While his mystery and potential are intriguing, we don’t have much to go on other than workouts and projections, which can be wildly inaccurate and not indicative of what a guy is going to be in an NBA game.
Sharpe is not likely to be ready to contribute right away and make take several years to become an impact player in the NBA.
But nothing ventured nothing gained, right? If he puts it together, Sharpe has the makeup of an NBA star and would give the Pistons the perfect complement to Cade Cunningham.
A big, athletic shooting guard with deep 3-point range and the length (6-foot-11 wingspan) to be an elite defender would be the ideal, so if Sharpe hits as a prospect, the Detroit Pistons could potentially have the best backcourt in the NBA in a few seasons.
If this pick were a little lower in the lottery, I think it would be a no-brainer to go for the high-ceiling guy, but the Pistons absolutely can’t strike out with this 5th pick. They need this guy to make an impact and be more than just another role player.
It’s a tough call and one I am glad I don’t have to make, as Troy Weaver has to decide to go with the safer route or roll the dice and potentially end up with a star (or bust).
If it came down to Murray or Sharpe would you opt for the high floor or the high ceiling?