Now that the grief from falling in the draft lottery has subsided, Detroiters are getting countless mock drafts on who possibly will end up being the pick at five for the Detroit Pistons. While the exact player has varied, almost all mocks have Detroit going with one of the following: Cam Whitmore, Jarace Walker, Ausar/Amen Thompson, or Taylor Hendricks. Without diving too deep into numbers and convoluted statistics on the top Pistons’ prospects, who is each draft prospect’s NBA comparison? What can Pistons fans expect each prospect to possibly pan out to become?
Let’s take a look at NBA comparisons for a few possibilities for the Pistons at five.
Pistons draft: NBA comparisons for Detroit’s likely picks
Cam Whitmore: 6-foot-7 SF Villanova
NBA Comparison: Miles Bridges
Cam Whitmore, in my opinion, is the most likely future Piston on this list. He is currently being mocked to Detroit at five in many drafts, and for good reason. Whitmore’s athleticism is beyond anyone else in this draft, not named Thompson. An elite first step towards the basket combined with top finishing skills make him a great pairing with Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey. His ability and willingness to backdoor cut to the hoop as Cunningham or Ivey feed him is a match made in heaven. Whitmore’s shooting has shown potential, especially his go-to step back, but he would need to continue to improve as a secondary creator.
His NBA comparison is that of Miles Bridges. Even though Miles has been out of the league for some time now while his legal issues are worked through, Bridges had elite athleticism with the Hornets. Improving each year, Bridges evolved from someone who simply throws down monster dunks to a true three- level scoring threat. The goal with Whitmore would be that his shooting improves similar to how Miles’ did, while continuing to use his athletic ability and willingness to cut to the basket. Adding a Miles Bridges level scoring wing to this roster would be more than ideal.
Pistons draft: NBA comparisons for Detroit’s likely picks
Taylor Hendricks: 6-foot-9 PF UCF
NBA Comparison: Jerami Grant/Jaren Jackson Jr.
Standing 6-foot-9 with a wingspan of 7-foot-2, Taylor Hendricks is a nightmare to match up against. He’s an incredibly long four, giving him the ability to switch on all positions. His defense and ability to contest almost every shot is a perfect piece for any NBA team, just ask his 1.7 blocks per game as a true freshman. Hendricks’ offense checks many boxes as well. During his lone year at UCF, Hendricks shot almost 40 percent from three on 4.6 attempts per game. As a true, face up scoring big, he shoots at an even better clip on catch-and-shoot attempts. This is something he would likely see often playing alongside Cade and Ivey.
Taylor Hendricks is one of my favorite options for the Pistons in this draft, as he is built in the mold of former Piston Jerami Grant and current Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. All three are physically similar, standing around 6-foot-9 and weighing 220-230lbs. Grant’s immediate impact during his rookie campaign was in the form of his elite length and size, but his offensive skills would eventually round out as he came into his own. Jaren Jackson Jr.’s defense was always elite, thanks to his length, but he was known for knocking down the occasional three. Like Jerami Grant, Hendricks has the potential of becoming a go-to scorer. And, Like Jaren Jackson Jr., Hendricks has the switching ability on the defensive end. A little less of a scorer off the dribble than Grant, and a little less defense than Jackson Jr. and you have Taylor Hendricks. Sign me up.
Amen Thompson: 6-foot-7 PG/SG Overtime Elite
NBA Comparison: Ja Morant (with less offensive capabilities)
Amen Thompson, along with his twin brother, are possibly two of the most polarizing prospects in this draft. Going the new school route to the NBA, they both have been members of the Overtime Elite for two years now. At 6-foot-7, Amen has good size for both a point guard or shooting guard and has even more athletic ability than Cam Whitmore. Thompson will immediately become one of the most athletic players in the NBA the moment he walks onto the court. Using this athleticism, Thompson shows potential at being an elite downhill player at the next level. His defense is above average, and his basketball IQ allows him to play aggressively, yet smart on both ends of the floor. Thompson’s shooting, however, is a true concern. Amen shot just 25 percent from three-point range last year. Along with struggling from deep, Thompson converted just 52 percent from the free throw line, which is often a telling sign of true shooting ability.
Amen’s NBA comp is a lofty one, mostly due to his wild athletic ability. Ja Morant’s show stopping highlight reel is never ending, constantly attempting to dunk over people. His first step ability to blow by defenders is second to none, and his jumping is so effortless. Amen will bring this type of electricity to whichever team he joins. While Morant is a better shooter than Thompson, he still only connects on 30 percent from deep. Most of his scoring is via slashing and getting past defenders. Amen will be forced to use a similar style of play to overcome his shooting inefficiencies. With that being said, Amen doesn’t need to become a great shooter. Even just developing into a good one, paired with his athletic ability will emulate Ja Morant’s game greatly.
Pistons draft: NBA comparisons for Detroit’s likely picks
Ausar Thompson-6-foot-7 SF Overtime Elite
NBA Comparison: Andre Iguodala
This is a comparison I’ve seen other places and it makes sense, as Iguodala was an athletic defender with a questionable shot when he joined the NBA. Ausar Thompson is actually rated higher than his brother by some experts, as he has the higher defensive ceiling and has flashed more consistent shooting, though he’ll need to improve in that area.
Ausar Thompson shot 29.8 percent from 3-point range this past season and 66 percent from the line, so better than his brother but still an area where he will need big improvement.
Before he became famous for being a role player for the Warriors, Iguodala had some great seasons for Philly, averaging nearly 20 a game while adding around six rebounds and five assists. He was a plus defender who averaged over two steals per game multiple times and ended up going from an All-Star to a role player on a title team.
Ausar Thompson has a chance to make a similar impact immediately with his defense and playmaking, and hopefully the shot comes along.
Jarace Walker – 6-foot-8 PF/C Houston
NBA Comparison: Aaron Gordon/Paul Millsap
Falling under the same umbrella as Taylor Hendricks, Jarace Walker may be best taken later than five, meaning a trade down to grab him would be ideal. Even so, the Pistons may not find a trade partner and still settle on Walker at five. He may not be the athlete Amen Thompson is, or have the scoring possibility of Cam Whitmore, but he would be a valuable piece to every NBA team. Standing at a 6-foot-9 with a very physical frame, Walker can act as both a small ball center or a more offensively skilled four. His above average quickness for a big man offers switching abilities on defense to go along with his great passing on offense. Walker has worked on his shooting form, but must still improve his shooting from deep to truly be a 3/4/5 position-less big at the next level.
Walker’s game most similarly represents that of Aaron Gordon and Paul Millsap. Since Aaron Gordon is at the forefront in the NBA at the moment, Walker is often being compared to the former 4th overall draft pick. This is a great comparison for the big man out of Houston. Both are energy guys, who primarily play the four, but can slot in at the five in a small ball lineup. During each Finals game, Gordon is continually showing the benefits to having a big four who can step out and provide some offense away from the basket. Because of his size and muscle, Gordon can defend 3 through 5 without giving much up in terms of advantages. Outside of Gordon, Jarace Walker compares nicely to former power forward Paul Millsap. In an age before position-less basketball, Millsap broke the mold. He provided strength at the four position, which allowed him to slide to the five if need be, but also shot the ball efficiently, allowing him to play away from the basket similar to a three wing.
All three players, Walker, Gordon, and Millsap shoot (or shot) the three ball at a clip of around 33 percent , while averaging around 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and a field goal percentage of 47 percent. Gordon is playing a key role for the Nuggets at the moment, a luxury the Pistons would love to have.