With just over a week before the 2025 NBA Draft, there is no consensus outside of the top 2 and even less when you get to the Detroit Pistons with the 37th pick. But of the major sites, a plurality chose Alex Toohey for Detroit in the latest mock drafts.
Of the five sites, two of them had the Pistons taking Toohey, which is about as close to a majority as you are going to get in the second round.
Toohey is jumbo 6-foot-8 wing who plays for Sydney in the NBL, where he averaged 11.4 points and 3.8 rebounds this season on 46.5 percent shooting from the field and 34 percent from long range.
The word that keeps coming up in Toohey’s draft profiles is “versatility” as he is known as an intelligent player who can do a little of everything and act as a connector on both ends.
He’s a good passer who keeps the ball moving and off the ball he’s a smart cutter who looks to exploit space. He can get his own shot from the wing and has shown NBA range on his 3-point shot, though that’s the biggest question mark around his game.
Bryce Simon of Motor City Hoops did a great film breakdown of Toohey that highlights some of these things, so thanks to Bryce and others for the analysis.
In theory, Toohey would provide skills that the Pistons desperately need.
Detroit Pistons draft: Alex Toohey could give the bench more offensive punch
The playoffs exposed that the Pistons need more playmaking and shooting, particularly from the bench, which basically had one shooter in Malik Beasley to go with players mostly known for their defense.
The Pistons have defensive connectors (players who can defend more than one position, switch easily etc.) in Ausar Thompson and Ron Holland II, but could use another guy like that on offense, a player who can smartly exploit defenses as a dribbler and passer while also being an effective cutter off the ball who can make open shots created by others.
Toohey fits the profile offensively on and off the ball, as he plays unselfishly and has the smarts to adjust to what the defense gives him even though he doesn’t have an elite skill that stands out.
The Pistons currently have too many one-dimensional players (though I expect huge offensive leaps from both Thompson and Holland), so could desperately use more skill and versatility on the wing.
The 21-year-old Toohey could provide that varied toolbox from the bench on both ends of the floor, so I wouldn’t be shocked if he was the pick, even though we’re far from a consensus.