The Detroit Pistons made big news last night when it was announced that they had signed Monty Williams to a contract that will make him the highest paid coach in the NBA.
It was a welcome change for a fanbase that needed some good news, and now the team can turn all of its attention towards the 2023 NBA Draft and free agency.
The Detroit Pistons have the 5th pick, and you now have to wonder how the Williams hire will affect their decision, as he is clearly going to have a say and will want players who fit his philosophies on both ends.
The Pistons also have the 31st pick, which is the first of the second round, a spot where they could at least find a player worth a two-way contract. It could also be a piece in a trade package if Detroit makes a big move this summer.
The field got a little narrower today, as some potential Pistons’ draft prospects took their names out of the 2023 NBA Draft.
Pistons draft: Prospects that have pulled out of the 2023 NBA Draft
According to Jonathan Givony of ESPN, here are the players who have pulled out of the 2023 NBA Draft, along with their ESPN rankings:
NBA Draft Withdrawals w/ESPN ranking
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) June 1, 2023
#41 Dillon Mitchell
#43 Reece Beekman
#47 Zach Edey
#48 Adem Bona
#51 DaRon Holmes
#54 Coleman Hawkins
#55 Terrence Shannon
#62 Judah Mintz
#69 Trey Alexander
#71 Dillon Jones
#77 Josiah-Jordan James
#79 Jalen Bridges
#83 Tristan da Silva
Of these players, there are only a few that might have been on the Pistons’ radar with the 31st pick, including Dillon Mitchell, college player of the year Zach Edey and possibly Arthur Kaluma, an interesting 3-and-D prospect out of Creighton.
Most of these players were projected well outside the range where the Pistons are choosing anyway, so probably won’t make much difference. It was surprising to see players like Edey and Coleman Hawkins come back to school, though both may benefit from doing so.
With two picks in the 2023 NBA Draft, there are a lot of options on the table for Detroit, including trading them both, which wouldn’t be surprising now that Monty Williams is on board, signaling the Pistons are ready to start winning.