The 2023 NBA Draft saw a whole new class of young talent join the league, including two more first-round picks for the Detroit Pistons.
In with the old and out with the new! Presuming Nikola Jokic is a bridge between the old guard as overseen by the likes of LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry, and the up-and-coming new guard, just who will that new guard consist of? And not just which players, but which teams? What follows is a quick look at the NBA’s best young cores, excluding those who have already made their way into title contention.
We’ve ranked the top five young cores in the NBA using only players still on their rookie deals. How do the Detroit Pistons stack up?
Detroit Pistons: Ranking the top 5 young cores in the NBA after the Draft
#5 Charlotte Hornets
- LaMelo Ball
- Brandon Miller
- Mark Williams
- James Bouknight
- Kai Jones
- JT Thor
The Hornets sneak onto this list for three reasons: they look to have secured a dynamic duo, have a handful of rookies incoming, and lastly, the third reason we’ll get to a bit later. Let’s start with the dynamic duo: LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller.
Ball is one of the best point guards in the NBA, hands down. He’s a 21-year-old walking triple double. In the NBA, there is no substitute for superstars. LaMelo Ball is one.
For months we were told that the top of the NBA Draft was already set in stone. Victor Wembanyama was going first. Scoot Henderson would be next. That’s not how it happened, as Alabama’s do-it-all forward crashed the party. Miller is going to make a splash from the jump and his trajectory has him set for the stars. We could be looking at Paul George 2.0 here.
Add the likes of James Bouknight, Mark Williams and the handful of rookies bound for training camp, and the makings of a very competitive team crystalizes.
Oh, and the fact that owner Michael Jordan has relinquished control of the team can only help.
Detroit Pistons: Ranking the top 5 young cores in the NBA after the Draft
#4 Orlando Magic
- Paolo Banchero
- Anthony Black
- Jett Howard
- Jalen Suggs
- Franz Wagner
- Cole Anthony
- Bol Bol
He may not have been one of the most hyped draft picks in years, but last year’s #1 overall pick Paolo Banchero had one of the best rookie seasons in some time. He suited up for 72 games, averaging 33.8 minutes in them. His shooting splits aren’t amazing, but there’s enough there to believe that he will be an efficient number one scorer for many years. There aren’t many rookies who manage to average 20 points per game in their very first season. Banchero isn’t the only player that Magic fans should be excited about.
Franz Wagner heads up another tier of rising stars in Orlando. Last season, Wagner scored 18.5 ppg while knocking down 36.1 percent of his threes. Wendell Carter, Jr., who is still just 24 years old scored a career high 15.2 ppg last season. While he soaked up most of the minutes in the middle, the Magic still has an intriguing big in Bol Bol to develop. In the backcourt, guys like Markelle Fultz, Cole Anthony, and Jalen Suggs have all flashed at different points in their careers. Fultz has overcome the dubious start he had and has become a very solid player that remains a reliable 3-point jumper away from being an all-star, while Anthony is already a well-rounded player with a legit long ball. Adding to this mix are recent draft picks Anthony Black and Jett Howard, who certainly deepen the talent pool.
There are a ton of questions to be answered in Orlando, but Banchero and Wagner are a great place to start. The Magic may be on the cusp of one of the best chapters in franchise history.
Detroit Pistons: Ranking the top 5 young cores in the NBA after the Draft
#3 Detroit Pistons
- Cade Cunningham
- Jaden Ivey
- Jalen Duren
- Ausar Thompson
- Isaiah Stewart
- James Wiseman
- Isaiah Livers
- Marcus Sasser
- Killian Hayes
Everyone knows the deal here, but any list of strong young cores would be remiss if it didn’t include the Detroit Pistons. Cade Cunningham may not be Victor Wembanyama but he is the former #1 overall pick around which this squad is built, and plenty capable of leading it to the league’s upper echelon. No one can win a championship on his own, however, and it’s the depth that Troy Weaver has assembled that will begin manifesting in wins this upcoming season.
New Head Coach Monty Williams has a lot to work with as he begins to tinker and implement his schemes. Jaden Ivey is one of the fastest players in the league with the ball in his hands and is set to have a monster year in Williams’ offense. Newly acquired rookie Ausar Thompson is going to be able to showcase his talent right away, particularly on the defensive end. Jalen Duren, who despite being the youngest player in the league last season, was able to man the middle from the beginning of his career and is also set to take a big step forward this year as the primary recipient of the lob pass in this offense. Beef Stew, Killian Hayes, and rookie Marcus Sasser will have their parts to play as well.
What we have here is a very athletic squad that’s on the cusp of grabbing headlines across the league. Shooting, of course, will be key to how far the Pistons go as its hard to identify any truly elite scorers just yet. Cunningham does have that potential and should begin showing it come November. November should also be when the revenge tour starts taking shape. Sooner than later the Pistons are going to restore Detroit basketball and wreak havoc throughout the NBA.
Detroit Pistons: Ranking the top 5 young cores in the NBA after the Draft
#2 Houston Rockets
- Jalen Green
- Jabari Smith Jr.
- Amen Thompson
- Cam Whitmore
- Alperen Sengun
- Tari Eason
- Usman Garuba
- Josh Christopher
- TyTy Washington
When our beloved Detroit Pistons finally do reach the NBA Finals again (note I say *when* and not *if*), I suspect that the Houston Rockets will be waiting for them. They appear to be on a similar trajectory, and after the recent draft their roster is loaded. Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore are, arguably, both top five talents among this crop of rookies. Thompson has the potential to be a transcendent talent that puts the franchise on his shoulders. His skillset somewhat overlaps with that of Jalen Green and Kevin Porter’s, but as a trio they comprise an insanely athletic back court.
Houston’s front court is in good shape, too. Jabari Smith is a very solid player, even if he doesn’t live up to the billing of a #1 overall pick – which he wasn’t, but he was under consideration for it. Center Alperen Sengun is rapidly becoming one of the most versatile bigs in the league considering his 6-foot-9 stature and penchant for knocking down threes. Whitmore should get some run as the small forward, and his athleticism is on par with his spectacular teammates.
Thompson is the perfect lynchpin for this group, and the Rockets are about to start running the opps out of the gym.
Detroit Pistons: Ranking the top 5 young cores in the NBA after the Draft
#1 Oklahoma City Thunder
- Chet Holmgren
- Josh Giddey
- Jalen Williams
- Cason Wallace
- Aleksej Pokusevski
- Tre Mann
- Jaylin Williams
- Jeremiah Robinson-Earl
- Keyontae Johnson
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put the league on notice this past season. His scoring shot up to 31.5 points per game while maintaining decent shooting splits as he led the Thunder to a 40-42 mark, and a berth in the Play-In Tournament. It was very solid work from the 24-year-old who looks to be just getting started. Gilgeous-Alexander isn’t the only member of the Thunder on the come up. His backcourt mate Josh Giddey, and rookie wing Jalen Williams have both been impressive thus far in their professional careers. Williams easily outplayed his draft position as the 12th player taken a year ago, a reminder that the organization is in great hands with Sam Presti at the helm.
Next year, Oklahoma City can expect the debut of Chad Holmgren, whose rookie season has been delayed by an uncooperative Lisfranc. By all accounts, Holmgren’s recovery is going well and the 7-footer will be able to show the world why he was once a #2 overall pick with his play on the court this fall. He’ll most definitely bolster the Thunder defense from his first tipoff. Carson Wallace, who the Thunder moved up to grab in this year’s draft, will be a nice addition to the backcourt. The newcomer’s calling card is defense, but he’s also a capable shooter who is sure to have plenty of open jumpers in his future. The sky is the limit for this very talented young nucleus.