Detroit Pistons draft: Is Anthony Black the pick at five?

With the Detroit Pistons falling in the 2023 NBA Draft, fans will have to start expanding their horizons when it comes to draft prospects. One player Pistons’ fans may need to become more familiar with is Anthony Black, a 6-foot-7 guard/wing out of Arkansas. What can Anthony Black bring to the Pistons, and does he fit with the current young core?

Detroit Pistons draft: Anthony Black’s offensive upside

Black projects as a dynamic offensive player at the NBA level. He has a very unique skill set and sound game offensively. What stands out the most about Anthony Black’s game is his passing ability. While he is 6-foot-7, you can consider him a guard, as he surely has the passing and ball-handling skills of players at those positions. Black will have value on the offensive end due to his ability to see over defenders and make good reads.

Another strong part of his game would be his finishing ability. Black is a good finisher with great touch around the basket. He will be able to use his strong ballhandling ability and size to get to the rim and finish over defenders at the NBA level.

The final part of his offensive game to go over would be his shooting. That is where you could begin to have some questions and could even say that is a weakness in his game. Black shot 30 percent from three in college on just 2.6 attempts per game. He has very slow shooting mechanics and struggled down the stretch for Arkansas.

Anthony Black: An impact defender

On the defensive side of the ball, Black should be able to hold his own and then some at the NBA level. He has good size and instincts, showing the willingness to fight around screens at Arkansas. The 19-year-old was a menace in the passing lanes, averaging 2.1 steals per game in college.

While Black isn’t going to be a rim protector, he has the size and strength to defend some bigger wings as well. He just seemed to always be making plays at Arkansas, constantly bothering ball-handlers and finding ways to make an impact on that end of the floor.

In these highlights you can see his relentless motor as he fights through screens and stays with his assignment.

Black has a chance to be an impact defender right away.

Anthony Black’s fit with the Detroit Pistons

A player comparison I heard for Anthony Black is Nicholas Batum. I really think that is a good depiction of Black’s game and would be a great outcome for him as a player. Batum is a guy who can handle the ball at the forward position and make plays for his team. The hope is, just like Batum, Black can continue to develop his jump shot once he gets drafted to the NBA.

In terms of Black’s fit with the Pistons, I think it’s a little questionable. I think all Pistons fans want another player who can make plays with the ball in his hands next to Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey, but ideally that player can play off the ball as well. Anthony Black was a good cutter and off-the-ball player in college, but his three-point shooting is what will give teams hesitance on drafting him.