When it comes to the No. 1 overall pick, the game plan is pretty straightforward for the Detroit Pistons — select the best player available.
There’s always a chance a team could come with an offer rich enough to convince the Pistons to move out of the top spot. But they’re operating from a position of strength, and keeping the pick and taking the No. 1 player on their draft board is not only their safest option, but is the most likely option.
The ideal outcome for their three second-round picks — the 37th, 42nd and 52nd — is less certain. It’s tough to see the roster accommodating four additional rookies a season after they added five. They could mitigate the problem by selecting draft-and-stash prospects, or by packaging the picks in a deal to move up.
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Either way, the Pistons have a lot of flexibility in the second round. It could be an opportunity for them to address specific roster needs, both for next season and for the seasons to come.
Here are three roster needs the Pistons could address in the second round, and a handful of players who make sense for each need.
Shooting
It’s the most glaring hole on the roster, and one the Pistons will address this offseason one way or another. Detroit shot 35.1% from behind-the-arc last season, 22nd in the NBA. They attempted 32.9 3’s per game, which ranked 21st overall.
The Pistons could improve in both areas through internal roster improvement. Isaiah Stewart, Killian Hayes and Saben Lee are all working on improving their shooting percentages this summer. With Wayne Ellington entering unrestricted free agency and Frank Jackson entering restricted free agency, the roster currently lacks proven outside shooters who will be under team control for multiple seasons.
Joe Wieskamp, G, Iowa
2020-21 stats: 14.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, 46.2% from 3.
Few players had a better showing at the NBA draft combine than Wieskamp. He recorded a 42-inch vertical, ran 10.70 seconds in the lane agility test (the fourth-fastest time) and scored 26 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in his second scrimmage. He also measured nearly 6 feet 6 without shoes with a 6-11 wingspan.
Wieskamp was one of the best shooters in college last season and shot better than 40% during his entire three-year career. His combine numbers suggest that he could be a true two-way threat in the NBA.
Nah’Shon (Bones) Hyland, G, VCU
2020-21 stats: 19.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 37.1% from 3.
After standing out as a 3-point marksman off-the-bench for VCU as a freshman, Hyland stepped into a featured role last season. Starting all 24 games, he led the team in scoring and knocked down 43.4% of his 4.7 attempts per game during his first season. While his percentage dipped as his volume increased, he still proved to be a high-level shot maker from outside. He can hit them off-the-catch and off-the-dribble, and was a 39.9% outside shooter for his college career.
He measured 6-3.5 at the combine, but has a big 6-9.25 wingspan. The Pistons are healthy at the point guard position, and could become even deeper at the one if they draft Cade Cunningham. But Hyland could be too good to pass on if he’s available.
Size
The Pistons are fairly healthy at the center position — Mason Plumlee was a reliable starter last season, and Isaiah Stewart looked like a starting-caliber player by the end of the season. Jahlil Okafor was reliable in spurts. Okafor will become an unrestricted free agent next summer, and Plumlee’s contract is one of the most moveable contracts on the roster, since he’s owed less than $17 million through the next two seasons.
Detroit’s center depth was tested in February, when both Plumlee and Okafor were injured. Given that Weaver has preached the importance of having size on the roster, they could look to add a long-term option at the position.
Day’Ron Sharpe, C, North Carolina
2020-21 stats: 9.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.9 blocks.
Sharpe is the type of high-motor, rebound and hustle-first big man that the Pistons, historically, have coveted. Draft analysts are also high on his passing, as he showcased vision and decision-making that was better than his 1.4 assists per game might suggest. He can find open shooters from the paint and make plays from the top of the key.
He’s currently projected as a late first-round pick, making him a potential target if the Pistons were to trade up.
Upside
It’s unrealistic to expect any team to find a star, or even, starting caliber, player in the second round. But it’s possible. Pistons fans who are watching former second-round pick Khris Middleton flourish in the NBA Finals don’t need to be reminded of that.
This is a deep draft, and like most, at least one player drafted after the 30th pick will likely flourish. The Pistons should still value upside, as they aren’t quite talented enough to contend for a championship yet.
Joshua Primo, G, Alabama
2020-21 stats: 8.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, 38.1% from 3.
One of the draft’s risers in recent weeks, Primo shot the ball well on 113 total attempts for the season, but he had more turnovers (41) than assists (25) and averaged 22.5 minutes per game.
Underneath the surface, there’s a lot to like about the player Primo could become. He’s a good shooter with good size who measured 6-5 with a 6-9 wingspan. He flashed strong footwork at times as a freshman, gliding past defenders to get to the rim and creating open looks for himself along the perimeter. He has the length to defend multiple positions. He’s won’t turn 19 until Christmas Eve.
JT Thor, F/C, Auburn
2020-21 stats: 9.4 points, 5 rebounds, 1.4 blocks.
Potentially one of the highest-upside players in the draft, there’s a lot to like about Thor’s build and game. He measured 6-8.5 inches tall, but boasts a 7-3.25 wingspan and 9-2 standing reach. He isn’t quite as tall as most NBA centers, but he was one of the biggest players at the combine based on sheer length. Thor also moves very well, and was a pest along the perimeter in college.
On offense, he’s able to attack space and is good in the open floor. He also attempted 2.7 3-pointers per game in college, though he only knocked them down at a 29.7% clip. At the NBA combine, he made an impressive 15 of his 25 attempts during the individual shooting drill. He could add more weight to his 203-pound frame, but if he puts it all together, he could be a high-level role player at the very least.
Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @omarisankofa. Read more on the Detroit Pistons and sign up for our Pistons newsletter.