Jarace Walker vs. Cam Whitmore: Who do the Pistons draft?

While Pistons’ fans are disappointed with the team falling to number five in the draft, there are still impact players Detroit can land. Two players that will be looked at heavily by the Pistons, are Jarace Walker and Cam Whitmore. Which player makes more sense for the Pistons in the 2023 NBA Draft?

Detroit Pistons draft: Jarace Walker

You may of heard of the comparisons to Isaiah Stewart, but Walker has a higher ceiling than the previous Pistons’ first round pick. What really stands out about Jarace Walker is his passing and playmaking ability. The 6-foot-8 forward was unselfish at Houston, constantly making the extra pass. Walker will need to improve his ball-handling and creation off the dribble, but he looks like a player you can run some offense through. Some concerns with Walker would be his shooting and perimeter defense. If the Pistons were to draft Jarace Walker, he would need to be able to play next to a center like James Wiseman or Jalen Duren. It’s crucial that Walker can play on the perimeter on both sides of the ball. While Walker isn’t a terrible shooter, he will likely be slightly above average at the NBA level. Walker’s ability to defend on the perimeter is also a concern, as he doesn’t have elite speed or athleticism.

Detroit Pistons draft: Cam Whitmore

Cam Whitmore checks almost every box when it comes to wings in the NBA. He has elite athleticism, standing at 6-foot-7, 232 pounds. Whitmore is a great finisher and driver to the rim, using his elite burst off the dribble to get to the rim and finish. There is untapped potential defensively, but he has all the tools to be an impact player on that end. In terms of shooting, Whitmore will need to make improvements. He shot 34 percent from three in college, showing the willingness to take threes off the dribble. A cause for concern could be his free-throw shooting, as Whitmore only hit 45 of his 64 free throws at Vilanova. If you believe in his shooting development, then Whitmore is a home run pick for the Pistons. Even if he can never be an elite shooter, Whitmore will still be able to impact the game in many ways with his defense and finishing.

Who is the better fit on the Pistons?

While Jarace Walker has the tools to be an impact player at the NBA level, his fit with the Pistons is questionable. Unless Troy Weaver believes in his shooting development, Walker is not a great fit next to Jalen Duren or James Wiseman. In terms of Cam Whitmore, he looks like the type of player who can complement Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey very well. Whitmore needs to be a more efficient shooter, but he showed the willingness to take threes at Vilanova. He is also a great cutter and mover off-the-ball helping create offense for Cade and Ivey. But no matter who Detroit picks in the draft, fans will trust Troy Weaver to pick a player that can help them win in future. While there are plenty of options at number five, Jarace Walker and Cam Whitmore will be players the Pistons will scout heavily heading into the Draft.