Detroit Pistons draft: Second round big board top-5

The 2023 NBA Draft is nearly upon us and it could be a very busy one for the Detroit Pistons depending on what they do with the 5th and 31st picks.

The Pistons haven’t ruled out trading the 5th pick, and the 31st could certainly be up for grabs in the right trade as well.

Things got even more interesting when the Washington Wizards traded Bradley Beal, which could have a ripple effect on how Washington views the draft and even put some of their players up for grabs.

But it’s also possible that the Detroit Pistons will just use their picks to add two more young players to their roster. It’s hard enough to guess who they will take with the 5th pick at this point, and the 31st could be one of any number of similarly ranked players.

Here are five possibilities, all of whom fall outside of the top-30 according to ESPN’s prospect rankings. There is a very good chance that someone from their projected first round will fall to 31, so this Big Board could change significantly during the real thing.

Detroit Pistons draft: Second round big board top-5

#5: Gregory Jackson Jr.

Jackson Jr. is the youngest player in the NBA Draft this year, so would definitely be more of a project who is not ready to contribute right away. He’s a flyer on high-end talent, as he has a raw offensive game but all of the physical tools teams are looking for at 6-foot-9 with good athleticism.

#4: Marcus Sasser

A combo guard out of Houston, Sasser can do two things the Detroit Pistons could use out of a backup guard, which are defend and shoot the 3-ball. Sasser is a pesky on-the-ball defender who can really shoot it, as he averaged 44 percent from 3-point range on 8.6 attempts per game in his junior season. His numbers dipped slightly in volume and accuracy this past season, but he is a tough player who can shoot.

#3: Tristan Vukcevik

Vukcevik is a skilled seven-footer who can shoot the 3-ball and spread the floor. He’s already played professionally on a good team Real Madrid and had a really good showing in the scrimmages at the draft combine. Would give the Pistons a young big-man prospect with a completely different skillset than any of the ones they have.

#2: Julian Phillips

A 6-foot-8 forward who is a tenacious defender who can guard several positions. Phillips, Sasser and Jackson Jr. were all part of a recent Pistons’ workout that was reportedly very competitive. Phillips’ shot needs a lot of work, but he’s a dawg on defense, and has plenty of time to develop offensively.

#1: Andre Jackson Jr.

Andre Jackson Jr. is another guy with an ugly jumper, but he does pretty much everything else at a high level. He’s a versatile defender with a high motor and a huge wingspan that allows him to defend all over the perimeter. He’s reminiscent of Herb Jones in New Orleans or Matisse Thybulle only he’s a much better passer than either of them. Jackson Jr. is actually a very good playmaker who averaged 4.7 assists per game on fairly low usage. He’s a connector who hustles and plays defense all over the court, which are things Monty Williams would love. I also like the intangibles, as he is an experienced winner who played a glue-guy role on an NCAA championship team.

Of course, there are likely players ranked higher on big boards who will fall for one reason or another, so the Detroit Pistons should have some very good options with the 31st pick.