2023 NBA Mock Draft: Detroit Pistons drop to 5th, surprise everyone
2023 NBA Mock Draft: Detroit Pistons shock everyone
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 5. 64. Forward. UCF. Taylor Hendricks. player
The Detroit Pistons fall four spots to the 5th pick in this simulation, which is the absolute worst-case scenario and could lead to a wild 2023 NBA Draft.
Troy Weaver is under pressure to win, or at least be competitive, so he might be tempted to trade this pick in a package for an established wing like OG ANunoby, if he becomes available.
Would the Pistons do this draft trade for OG Anunoby?. light. Related Story
While that does make some sense, so does just taking the best player available, as this draft is wing-heavy and one of them could end up being just as good as OG Anunoby someday and under team control.
Some scouts think that player is Hendricks, who has somewhat flown under the radar this season, as he plays for UCF and not a major NCAA team.
But Hendricks has everything the Detroit Pistons need out of a forward. Scouts are enamored by his size at 6-foot-9, as well as his ability to shoot the 3-ball (just under 40 percent) and block shots (1.7 per game). His combination of outside shooting and rim protection could make him the best two-way wing in this draft unless you count Wembanyama as a wing.
A high-level floor spacer who can protect the rim is pretty much exactly what the Detroit Pistons need. Hendricks would be a surprise pick here, but many believe he has more upside as a two-way player than the wings ranked ahead of him.
This would be a major swing for the fences by Troy Weaver, but it’s very possible that Hendricks jumps into the top five or six of the 2023 NBA Draft.