Detroit Pistons draft: A 3-point specialist for the 2nd round

The Detroit Pistons once again finished this season as one of the worst shooting teams in the NBA.

The Pistons were dead last in overall field goal percentage, last in 2-point percentage, 21st in 3-point percentage and just 20th in 3-point shots made per game.

Outside of Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks, the Pistons don’t have anyone who qualifies as a lights-out shooter from 3-point range, something they could look to remedy in the 2023 NBA Draft as well as in free agency and trades.

Finding shooters to put around Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey is imperative, especially if Detroit is actually going to try the ill-advised two-big lineups that Troy Weaver seems to be fond of.

They hope to add a wing who can shoot and defend, but might also look to supplement their bench with a sharpshooter whose main focus is coming in and getting buckets from behind the 3-point line.

One 2nd-round prospect who fits that description is Brandin Podziemski from Santa Clara, a player with some flaws who can hit shots.

Detroit Pistons draft: Brandin Podziemski

Brandin Podziemski is a prospect whose strengths and weaknesses are pretty apparent. He’s a below-the-rim athlete, though does have good size for a shooting guard at 6-foot-5.

He’s not a high flyer, or a guy who is going to blow you away with athleticism, but he did average just under 20 points per game for Santa Clara while adding 8.8 rebounds, so he does get after it on the boards for a guard.

But if Podziemski makes it in the NBA it will be because of his shooting, as he is ranked as one of her best shooters in his draft class. He hit just under 44 percent from 3-point range this season on 5.8 attempts per game and shot over 51 percent from 2-point range, so he can fill it up all over the floor.

As you can see from his highlights, Podziemski has NBA range to say the least, and the lefty is crafty at getting space to get his shot off, something that will be a huge challenge in the NBA.

He’s a smart player and a pretty good team defender, but there are also questions about whether he’ll be able to stay in front of two-guards in the NBA. But teams will find a way to make it work around a guy if he can change a game with his shooting, just ask our old friend Luke Kennard, who sneakily became a key part of the Grizzlies’ playoff rotation.

Podziemski does have some game off the bounce and could be one of those guys who comes into games and adds instant offense.

The 31st pick might be a tad high for him, but if the Detroit Pistons want to add some potentially elite shooting, Podziemski might get a look.