For the first time in years, fans of the Detroit Pistons aren’t focused on the NBA Draft in March.
That’s because the Pistons would not have a first-round pick if the season ended today, as it would be conveyed to the Minnesota Timberwolves as the 17th pick.
Neither the Pistons, nor the Timberwolves likely thought this was a possibility when the T’Wolves landed the pick as part of the Karl-Anthony Towns trade, but it would be beneficial to the Pistons to get this pick out of the way so that they finally have control over all of their future picks for the first time in five years.
But the Pistons will have a selection in the second round via a pick from Toronto that would currently be the 37th overall.
Nailing second-round draft picks is going to be crucial as tax penalties get more punitive, which is good, as Trajan Langdon happens to be very good at it. I doubt he’ll target a specific position, but for this first round of draft coverage, here are three power forwards who might be fits with Detroit and could fall into their draft range.
JT Toppin: Texas Tech
Toppin is a 6-foot-9, 225 lb. forward out of Texas Tech, the 3rd seed that will play UNC Wilmington in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
The sophomore has averaged 18 points, 9 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game this season and has shown the kind of skill that NBA teams are looking for in a modern NBA big, as he can shoot the 3-ball a little, hitting 32 percent of his 1.7 attempts per game.
He’s strong and athletic enough to defend on the perimeter or down low and is a good rebounder. He’s projected to go in the late first, early second and fits the profile of what the Pistons need in the post-Tobias Harris era that will start after next season.
Alex Karaban: UCONN
Karaban is a 6-foot-8 forward who is far more of a perimeter prospect, as he shoots nearly six per game from long range, hitting 35.7 percent of them for UCONN, the 8th seed who will take on Oklahoma in the first round.
He’s a classic 2nd-round role player type, as he’s solid at everything, but not a flashy athlete, can block shots on the weakside, will play his role well and is a decent passer who can also take it off the bounce.
But his gateway to the NBA will be shooting and the Pistons could use more of it at the forward spot.
Carter Bryant: Arizona
This is a player the Pistons should be watching in Arizona's first-round matchup against Akron and beyond, as the 6-foot-8 freshman has shown all of the tools even though his counting numbers won’t jump off the page.
He’s a good athlete with a strong frame already who can get out in transition and has nice shooting touch, hitting 36.6 percent of his 3-pointers this season on 2.7 attempts per game, numbers that should translate to the next level.
He’s a good ball handler for his size and eventually projects as a guy who can create his own shot from the wing, something the Pistons will need in the future as they try to complement and then replace Tobias Harris.
A strong tournament could propel him into the first round, but the Pistons may be able to use their largesse of 2nd-round picks to trade up, so that wouldn’t necessarily rule him out.
Big wings are always going to be in high demand and these three represent some of the best options that could fall to the Pistons with the 37th pick.