Turning the page to draft season is always a question – when’s too soon? With the regular season crossing its halfway point, and the Detroit Pistons holding one of the worst records in the NBA, we may be close to that time.
The 2023 NBA Draft will be headlined by two prospects that will likely be a no brainer for teams who land a top two pick. The clear no. 1, Victor Wembanyama, followed by Scoot Henderson of the G League Ignite.
Wembanyama, who is widely considered a generational prospect, will be a positionless big who can score and create in ways that haven’t been seen before. Not to mention, he’ll be able to block shots at ease thanks to his athleticism and 7-foot-plus height.
Henderson is a ball dominant, true point guard, who would likely be the no. 1 prospect on any current or past big board that doesn’t contain a Wembanyama.
For the Pistons, while the opportunity to select either Wembanyama or Henderson will be too good to pass up on, Detroit will need a wing who can shoot at a high clip and be a positive defender.
Depending on where the ping pong balls land, I’m sure the wing archetype is something that GM Troy Weaver will be looking to fill, whether that be in the draft or free agency. Should the Detroit Pistons be in a position to select a wing in this year’s draft, there are a handful of names to keep an eye on. For now, as draft season picks up, here are two fits who could fill the wing role.
Detroit Pistons draft prospects: Cam Whitmore (Villanova)
Whitmore is a 6-foot-7 freshman for the Wildcats, who will be one of the younger players in the upcoming draft class. He’s currently 18 years old, and won’t be turning 19 until July, after the NBA draft.
There isn’t a huge sample size for Whitmore at the collegiate level yet, as he missed Villanova’s early games due to a thumb injury. Since returning, he’s had an interesting role for the Wildcats. Averaging just above 20 minutes per game, showing scoring prowess on some nights, while in others he struggled to find buckets. Notably, in his second collegiate game, Whitmore popped for 21 points against Penn.
He hasn’t looked great from 3-point land to date, shooting close to 27 percent on the season from deep. However, as a young prospect, this isn’t something that I would be worried about should Whitmore become a Piston this summer. There have been nights where he’s looked great from the field, so you know that the shooting ability is there. This will take some time to develop as Whitmore begins his NBA career, which is to be expected.
Where I’m truly impressed with the Villanova product is his work on the glass. Whitmore is currently averaging six rebounds per game. Let me remind you, this is from the wing position.
He grabbed 10 boards against St. Johns (NY) and eight against Marquette, as well as a handful of other performances where Whitmore grabbed 6-to-7 rebounds. This has all occurred within his eight college games to date, showing consistency.
His big body allows him to fight for rebounds against opponents playing up at the four or five position. Having a wing who can rebound in the way that Whitmore does is a huge plus for any NBA team, especially the Pistons, whose wings are not good rebounders.
As a defender, Whitmore is pesky. He’s averaging one steal per game for Villanova, which is partially thanks to his ability to guard numerous positions on the floor. His frame also allows him to block shots, which hasn’t fully translated to the collegiate level yet.
Oh, and the athleticism is there.
Whitmore has the athleticism and tools to be a proper 3-and-D wing, which is definitely one of the Pistons’ biggest needs in the draft or free agency.
Detroit Pistons draft prospect: Ausar Thompson (Overtime Elite)
Ausar’s twin brother Amen is considered the better prospect of the two, however I am giving Ausar the nod here due to his defensive ability.
Both Thompson twins are currently playing in the Overtime Elite program, where Ausar Thompson is averaging 2.8 steals and 1.4 blocks per game. Ausar also holds OTE’s record for blocks within a single game with seven, a number he’s recorded twice.
He can get up, which contributes to his shot blocking ability, while also helps with making unique plays off the wing on the offensive end. He is active in passing lanes and can take it the distance and finish in transition, which is where he really thrives.
Ausar is averaging close to eight rebounds per game this season with OTE, another positive of his 6-foot-7 frame and athleticism.
There is a caveat here, the competition that Thompson is going up against in OTE may call for some additional adjusting once he’s guarding NBA players. But, the attributes that Ausar has shown through his development show tremendous upside for a long career as a serious player in the league. He very well may be the best wing defender in the upcoming draft class.
Being able to get steals and block shots at a high rate will help Thompson create instant offense for any team that he lands with. Ausar could end up being a sneaky prospect for the NBA’s Slam Dunk Contest in the future. When he finds himself alone on the fast break after steals, there’s no telling what the young man can do.
His athleticism and sound defense has been present throughout his entire time with OTE. At 20 years old come draft time, Ausar can fit in with the Detroit Pistons’ young core seamlessly.