Official Detroit Pistons thread

[froot loops]

The Pistons look like they are going to continue their great record against the spread. Casey only played Bey, Stewart and Cunningham the first 6 minutes. It doesn't matter because Hayes is going medieval on their ass.

[jaadam4]

This f’ing team. Stop winning please

[Mainevent]

They sat their starters for almost the entire game last night and still easily handled that g-league lineup that OKC rolled out there.

[jaadam4]

They sat their starters for almost the entire game last night and still easily handled that g-league lineup that OKC rolled out there.

That’s what we need to do. G league this shit. We have to stay in the top 3-4

[froot loops]

They did G League it, Jamorko Pickett, Saben Lee and Braxton Key played big minutes. Olynuk and Stewart didn't even play.

[froot loops]

4 games left and the Pacers are 3 wins up on them in the standings. They play the Packers but then play three straight MVP candidates.

[jaadam4]

Hayes sucks complete dick all year then turns it on when we just need him to be himself

[Mainevent]

Hayes has been playing well the past few weeks.

[froot loops]

Yeah, it's been coming together for him. You got to watch the games.

The thing about the Pistons is once Grant and Olynuk came back and they acquired Bagley they became a different team. They have 22 wins but they are much better than the other team's in that strata. They are 20-1 against the spread as a dog in the last couple months.

Their biggest problem is the East is stacked for the first time in eons.

[jaadam4]

I like Bagley. I know he’s not going to be confused with Big Ben on defense but he’s been really efficient. I hope he sticks around

[whatever_gong82]

Stomped by Milwaukee tonight, so at worst the Pistons will finish with the 4th worst record in the NBA and can clinch the 3rd worst by losing their final game of the year Sunday night vs. Philadelphia on the road.

[jaadam4]

Hayes isn’t sucking right now. That’s a plus

[whatever_gong82]

Detroit lost the last game of the year to Philly last night, 118-106, and will have the 3rd overall worst record in the NBA and will at worst pick 7th in this year's NBA Draft, with the NBA Draft Lottery to determine where the Pistons to draft be held on May 17th, and the 2022 NBA Draft to be held on June 23, 2022 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

The link below can simulate the odds of where the Pistons can end up drafting.


Tankathon | 2022 NBA Draft Order & Lottery Simulator

[jaadam4]

Good season for the Pistons. This is a good draft for our needs as there’s a bunch of bigs and players that can shoot the ball. Draft the best player and let’s contend

[whatever_gong82]

Pistons 2022 NBA Mock Draft, 1.0: Chet Holmgren? Jabari Smith? Paolo Banchero? Five scenarios, five options for Detroit

By James L. Edwards III

The NBA’s regular season is over. The lottery odds are set. In Detroit, everyone’s favorite time of the year has arrived: mock draft season.

Despite flirting with a .500 record since Valentine’s Day, the Pistons (23-59) reached the finish line with the best odds at landing the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. Only this time around, instead of ending the season with the league’s second-worst record, Detroit finished with the third-worst, which means the franchise could select as high as No. 7.

This particular draft is a pivotal one for general manager Troy Weaver and Co., only because after landing the No. 1 pick a year ago and selecting Cade Cunningham — who has lived up to the hype — this very well could be the last time the Pistons hold a top-five pick for quite some time. Cunningham appears to be too advanced for the franchise to find itself in this position a year from now (barring injury). With a little luck and keen talent evaluation, Detroit could set itself up for success for the next decade with its current young core and this selection.

Right now, there appears to be a three-way race for the No. 1 pick. One of Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren, Duke’s Paolo Banchero or Auburn’s Jabari Smith will almost certainly hear their name called first come June 23. All have different skill sets, so until we know which team is handed the top choice, it’s a guessing game right now.

However, that’s why we’re here today: to simulate the 2022 NBA Draft order and provide some insight and projection into who the Pistons might pick in different scenarios. I went to Tankathon.com and simulated the draft order five times to generate five different scenarios for Detroit. In each scenario, using conversations with people across the league, my own research and gut feeling, I’ll pick who I think the Pistons will select.

Enjoy.

First scenario: No. 1 pick
Detroiters can only hope that their luck mimics last season’s when the draft lottery takes place May 17. My first simulation brought about the most ideal scenario for Pistons fans, and it would be the third time since 2010 that a franchise had back-to-back No. 1 picks.

Anyway, let’s get to it. With the first pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, the Detroit Pistons select … Chet Holmgren, C, Gonzaga.

This obviously can change, but I feel that Holmgren is atop the Pistons’ big board. Why? The 19-year-old who stands 7-foot-1 has the highest upside as a two-way threat. Defensively, Holmgren is an elite rim protector and moves his feet well enough away from the basket to hold his own in space. He can grab a rebound and create for himself or others in transition. Offensively, Holmgren shot at a 39 percent rate from deep. He is a lob threat. There are questions as to whether he can create his own shot at the top level, but even if he’s unable to do so consistently, the rest of what he provides should make him a really good NBA player for a long time if all goes right.

Of course, there are concerns about his frame. And even if it is a tired discussion, those concerns are warranted. However, you’d expect an NBA franchise to be able to bulk him up somewhat.

Lastly, from all accounts, Holmgren might be the most fierce competitor of the trio expected to go No. 1. He shows it when on the court. That intangible is coveted in the NBA, but particularly in Detroit under the watch of Weaver and head coach Dwane Casey.

Holmgren just checks all the boxes for what the Pistons need.

Scenario 2: No. 4 pick
No. 1: Indiana Pacers — Chet Holmgren, C, Gonzaga

No. 2: Orlando Magic — Paolo Banchero, F, Duke

No. 3: New Orleans Pelicans — Jabari Smith, F, Auburn

No. 4: Detroit Pistons …

The pick here is Keegan Murray, the high-scoring forward out of Iowa.


I’m sure most of you just pounded your office desk out of frustration that Purdue guard Jaden Ivey wasn’t my pick here, and while I think he’s in strong consideration, Murray, I believe, would be the selection.

There just aren’t many holes in the 21-year-old’s game. Murray averaged 23.5 points and 8.7 rebounds while shooting 55 percent from the field and 39 percent from 3 as a sophomore. Murray isn’t invisible when the ball isn’t in his hands (like Banchero can be at times). He cuts well. He makes smart basketball plays. The 6-foot-8 Murray may never be an All-Star, but I’m fairly confident that he’ll be, at minimum, a good NBA player for a long time. He doesn’t have the highest ceiling of the names listed above (including Ivey), but he’s got one of the highest floors, in my opinion.

Some questions about Murray’s lack of lateral agility have come up when talking about his defense. It’s a fair concern. However, he does make good defensive plays and has the coveted size and wingspan to be somewhat disruptive if he makes an effort on that end, which he does.

There’s nothing wrong with getting a player who does several things well, even if he doesn’t end up as a superstar.

Scenario 3: No. 2 pick
No. 1: Oklahoma City Thunder — Chet Holmgren, C, Gonzaga

No. 2: Detroit Pistons …

I’ve gone back and forth with this, and I’ll probably continue to do so over the next month, but the pick here, I believe, would be Paolo Banchero. Smith will come into the league as a far better shooter and defender, both of which are traits Detroit needs, but Banchero’s playmaking might give him the nod. I’ve got real concerns with Smith when he puts the ball on the floor. He did not shoot a desired clip inside the arc last season. Banchero can create a bucket for himself. He does a lot of things well, and while 3-point shooting isn’t currently one of them, his shot isn’t broken and could be improved.

For me, Banchero’s IQ and willingness to move the ball make him an attractive prospect. In Detroit, those characteristics are desired. The Pistons didn’t turn into a decent team this season until the ball started to move. Banchero would add to the connectivity that has been brewing in the Motor City.

The 19-year-old already has an NBA body, but he’s not the greatest vertical athlete. His defense can be pretty bad at times. Like I said earlier, he can sometimes be invisible when the ball isn’t in his hands. How else is Banchero impacting the game? It’s a fair critique. However, it’s possible that Duke’s system didn’t do Banchero many favors. I could see Banchero showing more of what’s in his bag at the NBA level because of the space and diverse offensive sets.

Scenario 4: No. 2 pick
No. 1: Portland Trail Blazers — Paolo Banchero, F, Duke

No. 2: Detroit Pistons …

The pick here would be Holmgren. Like I said, I get the sense that he’s at the top of Detroit’s board currently.

Banchero seems like the right fit for the Trail Blazers, who appear to be in the market for a prospect better equipped to make an impact right away alongside Damian Lillard rather than playing the long game like they might have to with Holmgren and Smith.

Scenario 5: No. 3 pick
No. 1: Oklahoma City Thunder — Chet Holmgren, C, Gonzaga

No. 2: Portland Trailblazers — Paolo Banchero, F, Duke

No. 3: Detroit Pistons …

While I think Murray could get some consideration here, ultimately, I think the Pistons go with Jabari Smith.

I really like the 18-year-old forward. His shooting stroke is beautiful and is the precursor to a lot of made baskets. Smith has one of the best jumpers I’ve seen from someone that size, at this age, in quite some time. He’s also a good defender who moves well in space and knows where to be.

The biggest concern, as mentioned earlier, is when Smith has to put the ball on the floor. He struggled, particularly early on in the college season, to create his own shot. Smith did, however, improve as the year went on and showed that he could be scratching the surface as a legitimate offensive weapon. Even if Smith’s self-creation game takes a while to come around, or never really does, he’d still complement Cunningham well as a lethal pick-and-pop threat and floor spacer.

There is a lot to like about all three of the “top” prospects, but each one of them carries some legitimate flaws. There isn’t a Cunningham among them. However, when it comes to Smith, he really could be a transcendent offensive player if he can develop more off the dribble.