The dream for the Detroit Pistons is to land the #1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft and walk off with the big prize, Victor Wembanyama.
But they also have the 31st pick, which could end up being valuable as a sweetener in a trade, as a way to move up in the draft or to find a hidden gem that drops into the Pistons’ laps.
There are a lot of intriguing wing prospects in this year’s draft, especially in that range, so depending on where Detroit lands in the lottery, we could see them grab a couple of wings, which is their biggest position of need.
Because of the G-League and influx of foreign talent, teams are increasingly finding good players in the 2nd round or even outside of the draft, so there is a good chance the Detroit Pistons can find a player with the 31st pick.
Detroit Pistons draft: Maxwell Lewis of Pepperdine
Maxwell Lewis is a sophomore from Pepperdine who is a prospect that could fall to the Detroit Pistons with the 31st pick, as he is usually mocked somewhere in that range.
He’s a lanky wing with a big wingspan who profiles as the type of 3-and-D wing that the Pistons need.
Lewis is not considered an elite athlete, but he has great size for the position, runs the floor well and has flashed the ability to shoot the 3-ball, though his long-range shooting numbers did dip this season in an expanded role and more minutes.
He averaged 17.1 points and 5.7 rebounds while shooting just under 35 percent from 3-point range this season on 4.4 attempts per game.
He’s a good finisher at the rim and is adept at using his length to get there even though he’s not the quickest player in the gym. He’s one of those guys that finds gaps in the defense and sort of slithers to the rim.
He’s good at using his long arms to get into passing lanes and to block shots, and you can see in these highlights that he clearly has NBA range on his 3-point shot.
He’s a player that can get buckets all over the floor and has the physical makeup to be a good defender at the next level.
If he falls to the second round, he’ll get a look from the Detroit Pistons, who need to add more length and shooting on the wing.