Like it or not in this “title or tank” day and age, the Pistons snuck into the playoffs at 41-41 this season, the worst record among the 16 playoff teams.
That means they hold the 15th pick in next month’s NBA Draft. That also means no Zion Williamson. No R.J. Barrett, no Cam Reddish, no Ja Morant and host of other elite names projected to be lottery picks.
But there’s still some pretty good talent the Pistons can target with the first non-lottery pick. Will they look for the point guard of the future, add some length and shooting on the wings or maybe even consider adding some depth at center behind Andre Drummond?
At first glance, Little’s numbers from his freshman season with the Tar Heels aren’t eye-popping by any means: 9.8 points, 4.6 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game, with a 48.0 FG% and 26.9 3FG% in 36 games.
Little received plenty of hype before heading to UNC, but he didn’t quite live up to the expectations. But make no mistake, he would be a nice grab at No. 15 for the Pistons. He’s long and athletic – something Detroit certainly needs after the departure of Stanley Johnson and Reggie Bullock. At 6-foot-6, he’s not overly tall, but he’s got length with his projected 7-foot-1 wingspan. And he’s more than capable of shooting better from 3-point range than he did in his lone season at UNC.
Washington showed major improvement in his sophomore season, especially when it came to stepping out and shooting from behind the 3-point line. He went from shooting under 24 percent and hesitating to shoot from distance, to hitting on 42.3 percent of his attempts – with confidence.
At 6-foot-8, 228 lbs., Washington is capable of playing in the post, but his improvement in ability and willingness to shoot the deep ball is a huge bright spot for NBA scouts. He’s not dominant defensively, but he’s more than capable and Pistons execs would be thrilled to see him escape the lottery.
Ish Smith and Jose Calderon are both set to hit free agency, leaving the Pistons in need of a point guard fix. The only problem is, beyond Ja Morant, Darius Garland and Coby White – all expected to be top-10 picks – there aren’t any standout point guards. Ty Jerome is the closest thing.
He excels defensively, and his 6-foot-5 frame and long arms will help make up for his lack of NBA speed. He’s a solid 3-point shooter (39.2% in three seasons at UVA) and a very effective passer. If the Pistons really want a point guard, this would probably have to be their guy at No. 15, unless Garland slides due to an injury that limited him to five games at Vanderbilt. Otherwise, they may want to look elsewhere and address the position in the second round or in free agency.
Coming out of high school, the (-) Herro was billed as an absolute sharpshooter from 3-point range. While there were stretches of the season where he really didn’t fit the bill, Herro did show on many a night that he’s got a great shot with the potential to be a great catch-and-shoot guy in the NBA. He shot 35.5% on the season, but had some pretty bad nights (i.e 0-for-5 in a pivotal game at Tennessee in early March). There were also nights where he truly dazzled (5-for-6, 29 points vs. Arkansas).
The Pistons could sure use some shooting. Herro is still young and may not be the sexiest of picks, but the potential is there. He’s got great shooting form, as is evident in his 93.5 FT% -- he missed just six free throws all season. Again, with the Pistons outside the lottery, they're not going to add an immediate star, but Herro would deserve plenty of consideration at 15 if he doesn't get nabbed earlier.
Here’s a guy that not many college basketball fans got to see. A foot injury ended his Oregon career just nine games into the season. The 7-foot-2 son of NBA legend Manute Bol was highly sought after coming out of high school. Not only is he a towering giant, he’s athletic, mobile and best of all, he can shoot from deep – even off the dribble.
In the ever-changing game of NBA basketball, Bol’s skillset could be just what a team is looking for in this day and age. Though it’s not fair to put this expectation on a kid, he’s been compared to Giannis Antetokounmpo – tall, long and lanky, with good handles and a smooth shot. His injury has raised a lot of questions, causing him to slide down the draft boards. But if he can manage to stay healthy, Bol would be a great mid-round pick.
Obivously, Bol may not find a lot of immediate playing time directly behind Andre Drummond, and another 7-footer in Thon Maker may deter the Pistons from taking a chance on him, but a brief sample size of games at Oregon shows he could stick in the NBA if he stays healthy.