Trajan Langdon's first draft choice could haunt the Pistons

The 2024 NBA Draft was a surprising one for the Detroit Pistons. 

It wasn’t a surprise when they fell to the 5th pick for the third straight season, as that seemed inevitable, but it was surprising when new team president Trajan Langdon selected Ron Holland II with his first pick in his new job. 

This was a draft without a clear pecking order and no one perceived as a guaranteed star. There was no Victor Wembanyama, no Paolo Banchero, there wasn’t even a Cade Cunningham, who was a consensus #1 pick in a much better draft overall. 

With that in mind, players like Reed Sheppard, Stephon Castle, Donovan Clingan and Zach Edey stood out for their high floors, as they all at least had a skill that should translate to the NBA. 

The Pistons went the other direction and swung on potential, with the raw but intriguing Holland II, a wing player who defends but has a questionable offensive game. If this description sounds familiar, it’s because it’s similar to the one given to Ausar Thompson coming out of the draft. 

Thompson and Holland are very different players, as Thompson is a better playmaker, more versatile on defense and has an overall better feel for the game, but they do have similar limitations, as neither of them can shoot yet, which makes it difficult to have them on the floor with another non-shooter (Isaiah Stewart/Jalen Duren) without spacing issues. 

This has less to do with any of these guys as players and more about their fit as a unit, as it is tough to envision unless one of them figures out how to knock down open 3-point shots at a league average rate, which they might. It's been four games, let's take a breath.

It’s far too early to make any conclusions about the 2024 NBA Draft, but you do have to wonder if the Pistons will eventually have regrets about not patching other holes. 

Detroit Pistons 2024 NBA Draft: Should they have taken Donovan Clingan? 

I should first say that we have no idea the status of Ausar Thompson’s health, nor how much the Pistons know about his future availability. If the worst-case scenario is that Thompson’s career is threatened or that there is at least a lengthy absence, then taking Holland as an insurance policy wasn’t a terrible idea. 

Let’s hope that wasn’t the case. 

There is also an argument that you can never have too many talented wings. Just look at the Boston Celtics, who have two similar players in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, neither of whom were knockdown 3-point shooters right away. 

But there is also an argument that you need a defensive anchor at center and right now, the Pistons don’t have one. 

Isaiah Stewart is a good defender and a better rim protector than he gets credit for because he doesn’t block a ton of shots.  

But he has so many limitations offensively that I don’t think anyone is arguing he can be the starting center on a good team. A capable and impactful backup, yes. 

Jalen Duren has looked better at times and hasn’t been helped by a porous perimeter defense that often allows guards into the lane, which doesn’t make his job any easier. 

That being said, his defense has not been good and there are real questions about whether he can be the defensive anchor the team needs. 

Teams are increasingly either taking 3-point shots or trying to get to the rim, which makes rim protection and being able to defend in space paramount in the modern NBA. 

Donovan Clingan has played sparse backup minutes for the Trail Blazers behind Deandre Ayton, which I expect to change at some point, as Portland will likely try to move Ayton. 

Clingan hasn’t been a world beater by any means, as he’s only getting 13 minutes per game, but in his four games, even playing limited minutes, he’s blocked the same number of shots as Duren and Stewart combined. 

Clingan is providing as many blocks in 13 minutes as Duren and Stewart are in 47. 

I am not going to declare anything after four games, but it’s certainly something to watch as the season goes on, especially if the Pistons are still having some of the same issues. 

I should also add that I love Ron Holland’s game so far even though he has struggled with his shot. This isn’t about him, but about the roster and how they are going to deal with the fact that their best defenders can’t shoot. 

This could look much different in three years if Holland turns out to be a star and Clingan more of a role player, but if Clingan becomes a dominant defender, the Pistons might wonder if they missed a chance to bolster a weakness.