5 offseason needs for the Detroit Pistons
By Ian Levy
2. Take a swing at No. 15
The Pistons fall just outside the lottery in the NBA Draft and, barring a trade, will be slotted at No. 15. This draft class, beyond Zion Williamson, is almost universally seen as weak and when the Pistons are picking the options look like they’ll be limited to high-risk, high-reward gambles or safer picks with lower ceilings. The Pistons have such a tight cap situation that turning this pick into a player who can help the team is imperative. However, the choices are tough because the Pistons may be stuck picking a player who can help them now or chasing upside that likely won’t be realized while Drummond and Griffin are still under contract.
There is still a lot of time before the draft and it’s hard to get a sense of who will be ranked where and potentially available when the Pistons are picking. Kevin Porter Jr. or Romeo Langford are possibilities with offensive upside but both have plenty of questions marks and Langford’s shooting, in particular, could be an issue on this roster. Keldon Johnson or Talen Horton-Tucker would be interesting defensive improvements, with Horton-Tucker offering some playmaking potential as well. However, Nickeil Alexander-Walker might be an interesting compromise, a player with immediate playmaking and shooting skills to contribute and potential upside down the road as a defender.