The obvious pick was Cade. The steal was possibly Isaiah Livers. And the flyer for the Pistons was Luka Garza, a college star whose game may or may not translate to the NBA.
Different players at different positions with different possibilities in the NBA. And all three linked by a mutual talent.
"The common theme if you watched our draft is Cunningham, Garza and Livers, all 40 percent shooters from three," Troy Weaver said on the Stoney & Jansen Show. "Adding shooting was key."
The Pistons want to be a three-point shooting team under Dwane Casey. Problem is, they ranked 22nd in the NBA last season in three-point percentage (35.1) and three-pointers per game (11.6) and their best three-point shooter, Wayne Ellington, is set to be a free agent.
The new guys can help solve that dilemma. Cunningham shot 40 percent from deep last season, Livers shot 43 percent and the 6'10 Garza shot 44 percent. Livers is the sharpest shooter among them, boasting a 42 percent mark from beyond the mark over his final three seasons at Michigan.
Weaver said the Pistons were also drawn to Livers' character.
"When I was asked about the draft at the end of the season, I said we're going to double-down and continue to get like-minded guys, guys that can help us restore. He’s like the guys we drafted last year. He’s competitive, he’s tough, he’s selfless and he can shoot," Weaver said.
He added, "Been watching Livers quite a while. Great feel for the game, great size and he lends versatility to the group as well. We're excited to have him."
Weaver was also excited to sign undrafted free agent Chris Smith, a first-team All-Pac 12 guard at UCLA in 2019-20 whose draft prospects were wrecked by a torn ACL early last season. Smith was on the Wooden Award watch list entering his senior year and averaged 12.6 points and 6.4 rebounds and shot 50 percent from three in eight games before his injury.
Weaver said Smith can "absolutely" turn into a great player at the next level.
"We think so. He was on his way. Unfortunate injury and we’re going to treat this kind of like a redshirt year of getting him back healthy. Hopefully the start of the new year he’ll be ready to go full-blast. But he’s a young man who we think has tremendous promise," Weaver said.