The Detroit Pistons are heading into the home stretch of their season, with only a quarter of their games left. Eyes are starting to turn towards the NBA Draft, with Detroit as one of the franchises with the best chance at what some consider to be the top prize this season, the lottery’s top selection. So, it’s time for PistonPowered’s NBA Mock Draft 2.0.
At the time of writing, the Detroit Pistons are tied for the second-worst record in the league with the San Antonio Spurs, 1.5 games ahead of the Houston Rockets.
Remaining in the bottom three teams will give the Pistons the top odds of winning the lottery, at a 14 percent chance of winning the No. 1 overall pick. However, finishing closer to the bottom of the standings will raise the floor of where the Pistons can pick. With the second-worst record, the lowest that they can drop in the lottery is sixth overall.
To determine my lottery order, I did one spin on Tankathon. In that spin, the lottery order was shaken up, and not in the favor of the Detroit Pistons, who ended up 6th.
Of course, this outcome is not ideal for the Detroit Pistons. However, with the second-worst record in the league, they actually have 20 percent odds to land the sixth pick. Plus, landing at six would make the team think, it’s not an obvious Wembanyama or Scoot type decision.
So, for mock purposes, let’s have some fun.
2023 NBA Mock Draft
New Orleans finds some magical lottery luck in this scenario. The Lakers actually win the lottery here, but the Pelicans hold the right to an unprotected pick swap with LAL this year, one of the many assets acquired in the Anthony Davis trade.
I wouldn’t wish winning the lottery and having to give up your pick on anyone, even the Lakers. Let alone in a year where Wembanyama is the prize.
However, adding Wembanyama to New Orleans’ core is a fun thought. A starting five of Wembanyama-Zion-Ingram-McCollum and maybe add Jonas Valunciunas in there for even more rebounding? Good luck scoring on that team or keeping up with them on offense.
There isn’t much discussion for the no. 1 overall pick this year, as Wembanyama immediately brings a generational talent to any team that’s lucky enough to call his name on draft night.
2023 NBA Mock Draft
Orlando moves up from five into the top two of this lottery outcome, and they are thrilled.
After adding Paolo Banchero last season, alongside Franz Wagner, a franchise point guard may be the last piece that they need to move towards contending for a playoff spot. And they get that here in Scoot Henderson.
Henderson is a dream scenario for any team picking at No. 1 in any year where a Wembanyama isn’t included on the draft board. The Magic already have a glut of guards, so much so that they had to ditch RJ Hampton, who the Detroit Pistons just signed to a two-year deal, but Scoot is too good to pass up and will add to their plethora of young talent.
2023 NBA Mock Draft
The Brandon Miller situation is currently a mess and just outright sad. If Charlotte ends up at three with Scoot and Victor off the board, I’m guessing they avoid any further drama by adding Miller. That’s the last thing that their franchise needs.
However, a lot can change between now and draft time as the Miller situation continues to evolve.
With Amen Thompson, the Hornets would get a 6-foot-7 player who can serve as a point guard if needed. He also may be the best outright athlete in this draft class. He can play the wing and is a strong defender, who is then able to bring instant offense in transition.
Charlotte is a mess right now. I don’t think that they are in a position to draft for fit this year, they just need to go with the most talented option in their draft slot.
I’m guessing that they go with the Thompson twin with more upside here.
2023 NBA Mock Draft
With the Brandon Miller situation continuing to play out, I’m guessing that San Antonio stays away from him here as well.
I’m also a bit higher on Ausar Thompson than others, thanks to his defensive ability.
Thompson is also a very strong rebounder and passer for his position, currently averaging nine rebounds and eight assists with OTE, along with his 21-point scoring average. He’s also averaging 3.5 steals and 1.6 blocks per game.
He’s an amazing athlete, like his brother, who can help spark quick chances in transition with his rebounding, shot-blocking, and passing skills.
Something about Ausar just screams that he’s a San Antonio Spur in this situation to me.
2023 NBA Mock Draft
Brandon Miller hears his name called to Houston as the first college player off the board.
Drama aside, Miller is a 6-foot-9 sharp-shooting wing. He is versatile at his size thanks to his athleticism, being able to keep multiple positions in check.
Miller would also be a mismatch on the offensive side of the ball if Houston decides to play him alongside Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr. He has star potential, which intrigues Houston alongside the scoring ability of Jalen Green.
The Miller situation will be one of the most interesting subplots of this year’s draft.
Detroit Pistons: 2023 NBA Mock Draft
The top-tier prospects are off the board for the Detroit Pistons here, however Jarace Walker would be a great piece to add to the team’s core.
Jarace Walker is a 6-foot-8 freshman, playing for one of the NCAA’s better teams in Houston. Walker is big, and would bring physicality into the Detroit Pistons’ frontcourt.
He’s a strong interior scorer, giving Cade Cunningham and or Jaden Ivey a pick-and-roll threat who can also work for some second chance points down low.
Walker will be close to 20 years old on draft night, making him not a super raw freshman, like the Detroit Pistons’ Jalen Duren was coming into the league. That said, Walker will still be a bit of a project, but he could add an intriguing element to Detroit’s rebuild.
He is also a strong rebouder, and is shooting 36 percent from three this year with Houston. Averaging close to a double-double in college, Walker could take some of the load off of Duren, Isaiah Stewart or James Wiseman on the glass. As a versatile defender with a long wingspan, he may be a great fit in Detroit.
If Detroit fall out of the top-4/5, Jarace Walker has the potential to slide alongside Duren long-term.
— Jack Kelly (@jack_kelly_313) February 25, 2023
He has close to identical measurables as Stew, but is considerably more mobile & adept at attacking close-outs etc...
++ Walker feels like the type of player Troy values. pic.twitter.com/gwsdcioIIK
Would the Detroit Pistons take a flyer on another player who is similar to Beef Stew? He has more long-term upside, but it would be a pick that a lot fans wouldn’t like.
2023 NBA Mock Draft
I think that Indiana is one of the only teams in the top half of the lottery here that’s in a position to draft for fit, with their backcourt of Tyrese Haliburton and Bennedict Mathurin, as well as recently extending center Myles Turner.
Whitmore would give the Pacers a strong defender to immediately plug into the wing spot.
He’s a dog on the boards and creates instant second-chance offense for his team, whether via a putback dunk or kicking the ball back out to one of his teammates.
He’ll still be 18 on draft night, possibly needing some time to ease into the professional game. Whitmore hasn’t shot the lights out from three at Villanova, but any team that gets him will expect his 3-point shooting to improve over time.
2023 NBA Mock Draft
Orlando gets a second lottery pick here through Chicago from the Nikola Vucevic trade. I’m calling my shot here that Kansas’ Gradey Dick continues to move up the draft boards.
Gradey Dick is a wing prospect with a little bit of everything. He’s shooting an impressive 41.8 percent average from three as a freshman for Kansas. He becomes an instant knock-down shooter in the league.
After getting Scoot Henderson at No. 2, the Magic add a rookie shooter alongside him.
Dick has played well for Kansas recently, I’m guessing that he continues the strong play and improves his draft stock. Orlando jumps for him here after landing their franchise point guard.
The Magic have a chance to end up with the best young core in the NBA next season, and have clearly moved ahead of the Detroit Pistons.
2023 NBA Mock Draft
The Thunder add the 3-point shooting combo-guard out of Baylor, Keyonte George, here.
George has the ability to score from the perimeter while also driving to the bucket with a strong floater game.
Turnovers have been a concern for George. However, he wouldn’t be asked to be the primary ball handler for Oklahoma City, giving him some time to clean that up.
As he’s only 6-foot-4, George may be targeted on defense, but being put in the right situation with a strong frontcourt will benefit the young guard as he works through his early career.
With Chet Holmgren coming back, I think that George would be an interesting add to OKC’s roster.
2023 NBA Mock Draft
Arkansas guard Nick Smith Jr. has played well as of recent, after coming back from injury. He’s one of the better prospects in the draft, and I’m guessing that Portland would be open to add a young point guard to play behind or alongside Damian Lillard.
Smith has a strong ability to finish at the rim. He’s mainly a scorer, which has worked in Portland in the past, but he can help facilitate if needed.
This gives the Blazers some additional versatility, which would be a bonus in times where Lillard and Anfernee Simons are off the floor.
2023 NBA Mock Draft
Arkansas guards go back-to-back here, with Smith to Portland and Anthony Black to Washington.
The Wizards are in an interesting spot. They need to figure out Kyle Kuzma’s deal. He has a player option for next season, and I’m assuming he won’t pick it up to opt for testing the waters in free agency. Kuzma may very well sign a new deal with Washington, that will almost certainly come with a big pay increase.
Adding Anthony Black in the draft would give Washington a floor general who can eventually serve as an offensive cog.
Being a facilitator alongside a scoring guard like Bradley Beal makes for an intriguing backcourt, especially alongside a frontcourt of Kuzma and Kristaps Porzingis. Porzingis does have a player option for next season as well, but I’m guessing that he will pick that up.
Black would be a bigger point guard at 6-foot-7. He’s a strong defender, which gives him even more upside next to someone like Beal.
2023 NBA Mock Draft
The Lakers land at 12 here in the Pelicans spot, after swapping their lottery winning No. 1 pick. Both the Pelicans and Lakers may push their way into the playoffs by season’s end, so they may not even be lottery teams once it’s all said and done.
Here, LAL gets GG Jackson, who is the youngest player in the upcoming draft class. He can shoot the ball fairly well which gives him upside in his 6-foot-9 frame. As a freshman, Jackson is averaging 17 points and close to seven rebounds per game for South Carolina.
There’s potential for Jackson to play as a small-ball center, which I think would be intriguing for the Lakers, however he does need to gain some size once in the league in order to avoid getting exploited when matching up against bigger guys.
Jackson is a bit of a project, but I think the Lakers would be open to going for upside here.
2023 NBA Mock Draft
Toronto goes big here, with newly acquired center Jakob Poeltl in need of a new deal this summer.
Even if Poeltl re-signs with Toronto, Filipowski is an interesting prospect for them. This season, with Duke, he’s averaging 18.6 points, 11 rebounds, as well as 1.5 steals and a block per game.
Outside of Wembanyama, Filipowski is one of the top big men in this year’s draft. Late in the lottery, I wouldn’t be shocked if teams took a shot on other players with upside after a ton of guards and wings went before their pick.
If Filipowski gets into a role with decent minutes, he could immediately make an impact. He’s strong on the offensive end and plays hard on defense. He has the potential to develop as a decent 3-point shooter in the NBA, which would be a huge positive as a 7-footer.
The Raptors take a shot at the first big man to hear his name called after Wembanyama.
2023 NBA Mock Draft
Michigan’s 6-foot-8 freshman Jett Howard fits well with Utah in this spot.
Jett is the son of Michigan head man and former NBA’er Juwan Howard. He’s had a solid season in his father’s program averaging 16.9 points per game while shooting at a 37 percent clip from three.
Howard can thrive next to a good NBA point guard. So, if Collin Sexton takes strides, Howard may be a good piece to add for the Jazz. He can open doors by making plays and being able to knock down shots, whether in the mid-range or from deep.