Pistons draft prospect’s stock may dip after historic flop in Tournament

Every lottery team in the NBA is hoping to luck out and get the #1 pick and the chance to draft Victor Wembanyama, including the struggling Detroit Pistons.

The 2023 NBA Draft doesn’t really start until pick number two and there are several players in the debate for that spot, including Scoot Henderson and Brandon Miller.

Reports claimed that the Pistons would consider Miller if they got the number two pick, which makes some sense, as he’s a big wing who can shoot, which is exactly what they need. There’s also the issue with adding another ball-dominant guard to a team that already has two of them in Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey.

That’s why some believe the #2 pick could be in play in a trade if the Pistons were to land it, as they may be able to trade back, get their wing and an additional asset, or use it as part of a package to land a more established player.

Even though Scoot Henderson was already shut down, his case got a little stronger recently, as Miller flopped badly in the NCAA Tournament, which may raise some doubts about whether he is worthy of the #2 pick.

Detroit Pistons draft: Will Brandon Miller’s historic flop change his status?

One flaw in the G-League is that fans and scouts don’t get to see the players involved in meaningful games under pressure, while college prospects get to show their skills in the NCAA Tournament.

That exposure may not have helped Brandon Miller, who put up some historically bad shooting numbers for Alabama.

Miller, who shot over 40 percent from 3-point range on the season, shot just 8-of-41 from the field and 3-of-19 from 3-point range in the NCAA Tournament against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Maryland and SDSU, not exactly elite competition, no offense to those teams.

The #1 seed Crimson Tide were dispatched in the Sweet 16 by San Diego State, with Miller scoring just nine points on 3-of-19 shooting and an ugly 1-for-10 from the 3-point line. He also added six turnovers in the loss, so not a great night for guy trying to make an impression.

Miller will already have to overcome questions about his character after an off-the-court issue involving a gun, and some in the media are questioning whether Alabama should have let him play at all after the allegations.

It’s doubtful that three bad games will ultimately tank Miller’s stock, but they certainly didn’t help and it will be interesting to see if the draft experts flop back to Henderson as the consensus number two.