The Detroit Pistons selected Chaz Lanier with the 37th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, landing one of the best 3-point shooters in the class and a guy who has been compared to Malik Beasley.
Detroit stayed at 37 while other teams got in a bidding war to move up, with Phoenix and Orlando both jumping up to select players some fans were hoping would land with the Pistons.
Detroit also passed on a potential stretch four in Maxime Raynaud, another player many fans had targeted for the Pistons.
But the Pistons addressed a need with Lanier, a lights-out 3-point shooter who can hopefully learn from one of the best catch-and-shooter players in the league.
Detroit Pistons draft: Chaz Lanier and Malik Beasley
The Pistons hope to retain free-agent Malik Beasley, who made the 2nd most 3-point shots in the league this season and helped create some of the space that allowed Cade Cunningham to flourish.
Lanier is a guy some have compared to Beasley, as he is adept at running off screens for 3-point shots, which he did relentlessly for Tennesse.
Lanier made 40 percent of his 3-point shots on 8.2 attempts per game this past season for the Volunteers.
The question is if Lanier will be able to add anything else. He is a good/not great athlete, who is strong enough to absorb contact, but there are questions if he’ll be able to get his own shot or defend enough to stay out there.
Lanier does have a 6-foot-9 wingspan, so there is hope for him defensively, but if he makes the Pistons’ rotation this season it will be because he shot his way into it.
If the Pistons do bring Beasley back, he’ll be the ideal mentor for the 23-year-old Lanier, as Beasley is one of the best in the game at movement shooting.
This pick is a bit of a departure for the Pistons, who haven’t selected a guy known for his shooting with their most recent picks.
You always have to temper expectations with a second-round pick, but Lanier was a super-senior who played five years of college ball, so may be more prepared to contribute than most.
Trajan Langdon has found talent in the second round before and Pistons’ fans are hoping he hit lightning in a bottle with Lanier, who at least has one NBA ready skill that the Pistons need after finishing 21st in made 3-pointers this season.