This Pistons' pre-draft workout could actually mean something

The Detroit Pistons need an injection of scoring and ball handling and could address that need with the 21st pick with a prospect like Ebuka Okorie. 

So far, the Pistons’ pre-draft workouts have mostly consisted of players who project as un-drafted free agents Detroit might want to see in Summer League, guys who could become the next Daniss Jenkins, a two-way who played his way into the rotation. 

But Okorie, who the Pistons reportedly had in for a workout yesterday, is not such a case, as he is projected to go in the first round, so this workout might indicate what direction the Pistons will go with the 21st pick. 

Ebuka Okorie draft profile: A bucket-getter with red flags 

Okorie just finished an outstanding freshman season at Stanford, where he was 7th in the country in points per game, averaging 23.2 points on 46/35/83 shooting splits. 

Okorie is lightning fast and can get to the rim at will, which is a quality the Pistons lack outside of Daniss Jenkins. Although he is a score-first point guard, Okorie takes care of the ball, another quality the Pistons desperately need, as they lacked reliable ball handling in the playoffs. 

Okorie had a crazy-high usage rage of 31 percent, yet averaged fewer than two turnovers per game, which is great for such a young player. 

He’s a strong finisher at the rim despite his size and projects as a better 3-point shooter than his college numbers might indicate. I also love his intangibles, as this is a guy who has a big-game heart and had some of his best performances against top teams. 

He hit game winners, and dropped 40 points on Georgia Tech, which was a record for a Stanford freshman. This guy can flat-out score and has a high basketball IQ. He was accepted into Harvard and eventually chose Stanford, so he’s a smart player who has been compared favorably to Kemba Walker and Tyrese Maxey. 

If he gets anywhere near either of those two, he’d be the perfect running mate for Cade Cunningham, but there are some question marks. 

Another small guard for the Pistons? 

Okorie is just 6-foot-2, so there are questions about his size, especially if he is playing off the ball. The Pistons already have two small guards in Daniss Jenkins and Marcus Sasser, though like those two, Okorie can hold his own on the defensive end. 

There’s been so much talk about creation and shot making that fans have focused on the two-guard spot as the big chance for an upgrade, but the Pistons could really use a bigger wing who can create, as they already have one small speedster in Jenkins. 

Okorie is one of the first legit prospects the Pistons have had for a workout, and it may show which direction they are headed, which is trying to find the shot creation they need in the draft. 

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