Big swings and flops: Troy Weaver's first draft class with the Detroit Pistons

16th overall pick, Isaiah Stewart, 6’9 power forward, Washington

After Weaver assumed to have the table setter of the future for Detroit in Killian Hayes, he decided to trade to get their power forward/center, Isaiah Stewart. Stewart was originally selected by the Houston Rockets, but was traded, along with veteran Trevor Ariza, a future second round pick, and cash to Detroit for Christian Wood, a protected first round pick, and a 2021 second round pick.

The Pistons loved what they saw from Stewart during his lone year at Washington, where he averaged 17 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocks for the Huskies. Additionally, Stewart’s soft touch around the rim and shooting mechanics led Detroit to believe he possessed the ability to move away from the basket, and eventually stretch the floor. Above all else, they saw a guy who fits the energy and toughness that Detroit desperately needed to get back to. 

Since the selection, Stewart has been a fan favorite and a mainstay in the lineup. Now averaging 11 points and 7 rebounds, Isaiah actually became the first Pistons extension in over five years. While Stewart was undersized to play the five, and not quite athletic enough for the four, Detroit has committed a ton of energy to mold him into a stretch four. Stewart is now shooting the three at a rate of 37 percent, so whether he is playing the stretch four or back up five, it’s currently working. Stewart definitely wasn’t a miss, but I don't think his overall fit in Detroit can be added to the list of Weaver’s success stories yet.