The Detroit Pistons are hoping to land an elite talent in the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft, but they will also have a pick in the second round.
Right now, that pick would be 32nd, high enough that the Pistons can potentially find a rotation player or even an impact player, as more and more teams are finding gems in the second round and even outside of the draft.
Detroit has a lot of young talent already but have a deficit on the wing, where they don’t really have a true small forward. They need to find a player who can defend the position or shoot, preferably both, and the free-agent class is light on wings.
Luckily, the 2023 draft class is loaded at wing, especially for guys who are projected to go late in the first or early in the second round. Of course, a lot can change between now and then and some of these players will rise or fall depending on their performance in March Madness or international play.
But here is a way-too-early look at five wings who could help the Detroit Pistons.
Detroit Pistons 2023 Draft: 5 wings for the second round
Bilal Coulibaly: Metropolitans 92 (France)
Coulibaly, who happens to be teammates of Victor Wembanyama (how about a package deal?) is a 6-foot-6 small forward who will be one of the youngest players in the 2023 NBA Draft if he enters it. He’s a bouncy and athletic forward who is adept at slithering to the rim and is a very good finisher in transition. He’s a decent shooter who has made 34 percent of his 3-point shots, but really projects more as a slasher and a guy who could be a plus defender on the wing. He’s a good shot blocker for his size due to his length and is disruptive in passing lanes. He’d be more of a project, and won’t be ready to contribute right away, but he has the type of athleticism and defensive upside the Pistons need at the position. Let’s hope Detroit ends up with two players from the Metropolitans this season.
Detroit Pistons 2023 Draft: 5 wings for the second round
Jaime Jaquez Jr.: UCLA
Unlike Coulibaly, Jaime Jaquez Jr. is 22-years-old and may be ready to contribute right away, as he already does several things well. Jaquez is not an elite athlete, but he can score from all over, rebounds the position well and has a high basketball IQ. He is 6-foot-7 but can play either shooting guard or small forward, though he may not be quick enough to stay in front of guards. He’s averaging 17 points, eight rebounds and 1.5 steals per game for the Bruins, who are dominating the Pac 12 this season. He’s likely to get some seasoning on the big stage in the NCAA Tournament and could up his draft status with a big showing. He’s a smart team defender who does a little bit of everything and might be ready to help an NBA team off the bench right away.
Jalen Wilson: Kansas
Jalen Wilson is another senior leading a very good team that is at the top of their conference. He is averaging just under 20 points per game, and adding 8.3 rebounds to go along with it. Even though he is listed at 6-foot-8, he takes a lot of his shots from behind the arc, averaging 5.8 attempts per game from 3-point range, though he is only hitting 33 percent of them. But his size and shooting ability could play at the next level right away, though he needs to be a lot more efficient than he has been so far in his college career. He’s shown some ability off the bounce and in the mid-range, but it will be his 3-point shooting that makes or breaks his potential in the NBA.
Detroit Pistons 2023 Draft: 5 wings for the second round
Julian Phillips: Tennessee
Julian Phillips is a 6-foot-7 freshman with a lot of potential as a defender. He hasn’t shot the 3-ball well in his first season, but he does shoot over 80 percent from the line, so there is a chance that part of his game really improves over time. But he really projects as a potentially elite defender, as he is very athletic, long and puts in the effort at that end, so if his shot comes around, he could be the type of 3-and-D wing that the Detroit Pistons lack. He plays with a little edge, loves to get on the boards, and likes to do the little things that lead to winning. He’s the type of gritty player the Pistons need, as he’ll dig in on defense and make hustle plays all over the court.
Emoni Bates: Eastern Michigan
No player in the 2023 NBA Draft has as much superstar or bust potential as Emoni Bates, who was at one point thought to be one of the best prospects in his draft class, but could now go anywhere from the lottery to late second round depending on who you ask. He’s had some monster games this season, and when he is on, he’s got a little poor man’s Devin Durant vibe going, but he’s also been wildly inefficient and inconsistent at times. He’ll put up 35 points one night and then four a few days later. If he makes it in the NBA, it will be because of his scoring, as he can flat-out shoot the 3-ball when he gets it going. But there are big-time concerns about his length (he has very short arms for his height) and his defense, which is often non-existent, which is why he has dropped this far. Some team is going to roll the dice on Bates’ potential and he has the chance to be a big-time scorer or completely flame out in the NBA.