If the Pistons pick does fit, then you must draft Bennedict Mathurin

Should the Detroit Pistons factor in fit and chemistry as the top criteria for drafting someone?  There is a lot that is unknown in this year’s NBA Draft, but there is one thing almost all experts agree on: the player that best fits playing with Detroit’s current lineup is Arizona guard Bennedict Mathurin.

Who the Pistons will select with the fifth overall pick in the draft is certainly a big unknown, heading into Thursday night’s action. Heck, who will go in the four selections before them is a mystery.

You have probably heard  the names by now (and if you have not, go to Piston Powered draft section, all there). However, one name pops up in terms of team chemistry.:

The best fit in the draft for the Detroit Pistons  is guard Bennedict Mathurin of Arizona.

Now, the best fit is different from being the best player Detroit could take.

As an example, most mock drafts have Jaden Ivey of Purdue as the first guard who will be selected. Ivey might be higher-rated as player than Mathurin, but he is not as smooth a fit, although Ivey apparently is hoping the Pistons take him.

But Ivey is a guard who plays best with the ball in his hands. Detroit already has a guard named Cade Cunningham who does pretty well when he has the ball. Ivey was also not a great three-point shooter for the Boilermakers.

We are not saying Ivey won’t be a great player in the NBA, just that he would not be a perfect fit the way Detroit’s roster is currently constructed.

So why is Bennedict Mathurin the perfect fit for Detroit Pistons?

First, while not thought of as athletic as Ivey, Mathurin is not exactly anchored to the floor, and he can shoot, see below:

Mathurin is 6-foot-7, 195 pounds and a pure shooting guard. He made 37% of his three-point attempts at Arizona while scoring 17.7 points a game. He is what NBA scouts refer to as ‘low maintenance’, which means he does not need the ball to be effective.

Mathurin is not a perfect player. He is not a great passer and he could tighten his handle a bit. But since  Cunningham does most of the passing and ballhandling on the team, the Pistons can look past those deficiencies (and the kid is 19, so he can improve)

The Pistons started veteran backup Cory Joseph at two-guard, basically because he was the only other guard who shot the basketball well on a consistent basis (he actually had the best three-point shooting percentage of his career).

But Joseph is 30-years-old, is in the last year of his contract, and is best used as a reserve on a team hoping to make the post-season.

Mathurin is a seamless fit:

2021-22 Pistons backcourt: Cunningham-Joseph

2022-23 Pistons backcourt: Cunningham-Mathurin

All Detroit has to do is swap Mathurin for Joseph in the starting lineup, and that’s it, easy peasy in terms of lineup construction.

Mathurin also has an interesting backstory.

Born in Montreal, Canada, Mathurin’s brother died in a bicycle accident when Bennedict was 12, and he dedicates his career to him. At age 15, Mathurin left Canada to attend the NBA Academy Latin America in Mexico City, so he never played high school basketball.

Important to Pistons general manager Troy Weaver, Mathurin’s supposed to be a high-character individual..

Should fit trump talent?

If Mathurin fits like a glove with Detroit, drafting him should be a no-brainer, right? Not quite.

At least publicly, Weaver is saying anyone can fit with Cade Cunningham because … he’s Cade Cunningham and he can play with anyone.

Maybe true, or maybe that is just something Weaver throws out there in case they do draft Ivey. But to maximize Cunningham’s talents, one could argue, he should be joined in the backcourt by a player whose skill sets perfectly fits his game.

Remember, the Boston Celtics got rid of Kyrie Irving and Kemba Walker, two All-NBA players, and, with a better fitting team, made it to the NBA finals.

The other side of the ‘fit’ argument is, trying to get a player who fits in well with a team that went 23-59 last year might not be so important. The Pistons need talent, as much as possible, if it is to crawl out of the bottom of the standings.

Bennedict Mathurin is projected to go somewhere between 5 to 14. He would not be a major reach if the Pistons took him. If Ivey is off the board by the time Detroit picks, the fact he is the easiest fit, could become a factor.