Feb 26, 2017; Louisville, KY, USA; Louisville Cardinals guard Donovan Mitchell (45) dribbles against Syracuse Orange guard Frank Howard (1) during the first half at KFC Yum! Center. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports
For a team somewhat stuck in mediocrity, the Detroit Pistons could really use a high value pick at No. 12 in the 2017 NBA Draft.
The 2016-17 season did not go according to plan for the Detroit Pistons. After a fine campaign in 2016 where they made the playoffs, the Pistons couldn't even make the postseason this year. Detroit continues to suffer from having Stan Van Gundy in charge of two jobs and Andre Drummond hasn't lived up to his potential as a franchise player.
Around Drummond is a collection of role players, none of whom have stepped up aside from maybe Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. But Pope shouldn't be the second-best player on a playoff team. Trades have brought in Marcus Morris and Tobias Harris, but neither has found consistency so far.
This leaves the Pistons in perhaps the worst position in the NBA: far removed from both tanking and a deep playoff run. Player development and improvement would help the cause a lot. Yet, unless someone like Stanley Johnson can become that young star they need, that second option, they're going to be stuck.
So, what's the solution? It's hard to say. The 2017 NBA Draft can help, but it's very likely those with the highest ceilings won't fall to No. 12. That's why it's not surprising to see reports that they're shopping the pick. Should they keep the pick, though, there are some serious options to improve the team.
Mar 10, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Luke Kennard (5) reacts after hitting a three-point shot against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the second half of an ACC Conference Tournament game at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
5. Luke Kennard, SG, Duke
Luke Kennard might be a bit of a reach at No. 12, but he'd address the biggest weakness for the Pistons. Last season, not a single player who averaged over 20 minutes per game shot over 36 percent from three.
Kennard is a sniper, who shot 43.8 percent from three this year. He should immediately find playing time thanks to the three-ball.
The other plus with Kennard is he has serious potential to grow into a secondary ball handler. With just Reggie Jackson and Ish Smith, the Pistons could use more playmaking. Having more shooters is crucial to helping Drummond as well. If another team doesn't respect the Pistons' spacing, they'll keep doubling Drummond.
Furthermore, Kennard is an incredibly deceptive driver who can bring out all sorts of tricks and moves to score. He's someone who could find a long term role in Detroit, despite his defensive deficiency, even if it's in a sixth man role.
Jan 10, 2017; College Park, MD, USA; Indiana Hoosiers forward OG Anunoby (3) dunks over Maryland Terrapins forward Damonte Dodd (35) during the second half at Xfinity Center. Maryland Terrapins defeated Indiana Hoosiers 75-72. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
4. OG Anunoby, SF/PF, Indiana
OG Anunoby is a bit of a weird fit with the Pistons given how much they like to play Morris, Harris or a stretch big at power forward. His best defensive position is likely as a small-ball 4 and he's not a great shooter. It also doesn't help that Morris, Harris, and Jon Leuer are all under contract for 2-3 more years. That makes things tricky, but he brings a defensive aptitude that very few Pistons have.
Playing Anunoby with some of Detroit's better shooters could help spacing issues around Drummond. If he develops into a world class defender, which is possible, they could even have him play some small-ball 5. Since he can guard, theoretically 1-5, he'd give Van Gundy lineup flexibility as a coach, which is always a nice thing to have.
The other thing with Anunoby is we really have no idea what kind of offensive talent he can become. He was so raw as a freshman and then lost a promising second season due to his ACL injury. If Detroit likes the looks of his physical and think they can develop his jumper, he's a fantastic option at No. 12.
Mar 25, 2017; San Jose, CA, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Zach Collins (32) shoots against Xavier Musketeers forward Kaiser Gates (22) in the finals of the West Regional of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at SAP Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
3. Zach Collins, C, Gonzaga
Zach Collins is the best center prospect in this year's draft, which might seem an odd option for Detroit. Drummond still has four years left on a five-year max deal and Collins isn't ready to start in the NBA. That being said, Detroit looked lost whenever Drummond wasn't anchoring the team's defense. In Collins, they would have a cheap, useful center under team control for four years.
Though he still has a lot of room to improve, one thing Collins showed he could already do at the college level was protect the rim. Just ask South Carolina. As he'll turn 20 around the start of the season, Collins has plenty of time to develop into the player he can become. By the time he's ready for his next contract, he may even be a better option than Drummond.
Collins plays really hard and shows signs of being able to do it all at center. Pass, shoot, rebound, block shots — he has that much potential. If he can shoot right away, he might even be able to play with Drummond a bit.
He's not close to putting it all together, but Collins could be a complete center in 3-4 years. Depending on who drops on draft night, he might be their best option.
Feb 4, 2017; Chestnut Hill, MA, USA; Louisville Cardinals guard Donovan Mitchell (45) controls the ball during the second half against the Boston College Eagles at Silvio O. Conte Forum. The Louisville Cardinals won 90-67. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
2. Donovan Mitchell, PG/SG, Louisville
In terms of fit, few players in this range work as well for Detroit as Donovan Mitchell. The Pistons have no one reliable at the point guard position and could use some extra ball handling. Mitchell stepped up in a huge way at Louisville by taking on point guard duties. Though he's 6-foot-3, Mitchell doesn't have the ball skills to be a point guard, at least right away.
He could grow into that role though. At the very least, the Pistons would be taking on a defensive bulldog who can play either guard position. Mitchell is built to mold into any lineup or team Detroit wants in the future. He can play on or off ball and defend the opponent's best guard. With age, he might even be able to survive on some small forwards thanks to his athleticism and 6-foot-10 wingspan.
After showing tremendous growth as a shooter, I envision a killer lineup of him, Caldwell-Pope, Morris and Harris. There you have decent shooting and the ability to switch multiples positions.
Mitchell is the type of player that won't win you a game by a last second shot, but will based off everything else he does over the course of a contest. That type of player is severely lacking in Detroit.
Feb 11, 2017; Tucson, AZ, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Lauri Markkanen (10) dribbles past California Golden Bears forward Ivan Rabb (1) during the second half at McKale Center. Arizona won 62-57. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
1. Lauri Markkanen, PF, Arizona
Figuring out Lauri Markkanen's draft range is very difficult. The smooth shooting seven-footer from Finland is unlikely to go in the top five, probably even the top eight. It's unlikely the Knicks think he and Kristaps Porzingis would make a great pair. So that probably puts him anywhere from No. 9 to Dallas to No. 14 to Miami. No way Pat Riley passes on him. Also, that would be absurd for Riley to grab talents like Winslow and Markkanen that late in the lottery.
Whether he's there for Detroit is up in the air, but if he is, he's their best option. Markkanen would bring the two things Detroit lacks right now: shooting and a potential go-to scorer.
In analyzing Markkanen, there are too many assumptions that he's just Channing Frye or Ryan Anderson. This guy was one of the greatest shooting big men in college basketball history as a teenager. He has the chance to develop into a scoring machine that can anchor an offense.
Watch: 7-footer Lauri Markkanen (@MarkkanenLauri) barely grazing the net on 18 straight NBA corner 3-pointers (via @mike_sig) #Susijengi pic.twitter.com/4nd2I0nyyr
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 29, 2017
His defense is also not as bad as it is made out to be. Now, in terms of what position he plays, that's another story. It's really hard for me to envision him being able to spend a ton of time next to Drummond. Pairing him with an excellent defensive power forward could help unlock his best potential, which I think is at center.
That being said, if Detroit can surround him and Drummond with defensive wings, it could work. Markkanen sliding might be the Pistons' best chance at a possible franchise player in this draft. If he falls, they should jump all over the opportunity.
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