We won’t know the answer until at least around 8 p.m. on May 16. The question may not even apply at that point. Or we might have to wait until June 22.
But until then, it’s primed to be the biggest debate on the 2023 NBA draft.
If the Detroit Pistons end up with the No. 2 overall pick on draft lottery night, should they take G League Ignite point guard Scoot Henderson or Alabama forward Brandon Miller?
The Henderson/Miller debate was one of the most interesting topics during the Free Press’ live taping of “The Pistons Pulse” podcast Monday night at Hopcat Detroit, and brought about good discussion from podcast hosts Omari Sankofa II and Bryce Simon.
The Pistons have invested top picks in three straight drafts on ball-handlers, most recently with Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey — not to mention Killian Hayes.
Framed a bit differently, the question was posed from an audience member: If the Pistons get the No. 2 or 3 pick, is it better to have a starting lineup with Henderson, Cunningham and Ivey? Or Miller, Cunningham and Ivey?
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After a short disagreement on whether that was really a “best player available” question, Sankofa, the Pistons’ beat writer for the Free Press, sifted through his answer.
“I think from a fit standpoint, it’s Brandon Miller,” Sankofa said. “I would say maybe just from a raw, we need to get the best players on the floor … if it’s just best five on the floor, it’s Scoot because I think Scoot, other than Victor (Wembanyama), is the highest upside guy. Cade Cunningham is 6-6, Ivey’s 6-4, Scoot’s 6-2, just from a 1-3 (positional) standpoint it works.
“From a ‘there’s one ball on the floor’ standpoint, I don’t know if it works and that’s something that they would have to figure out as time goes. But I’m going to go Scoot, just because, just watching him play, the stuff he’s able to do. And once you put him to the NBA with real spacing and real big men around him … he’s not exactly like Ja (Morant) but I think he could have a Ja-like impact where you can just let him cook and you’re gonna be in good shape. So I would go Scoot. That’s the not best fit lineup, but it’s the most talented lineup. And especially if Cade and Ivey continue to develop as shooters — and I know Cade’s been working on his shot even with the (shin) injury and Ivey shot the ball a lot better so that’s probably realistic — it could probably work, so I’m going to go Scoot. But fit-wise, Brandon Miller.”
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Simon, who goes by the moniker Motor City Hoops, said the Miller lineup makes more sense, especially next season, as a seamless fit. But in the future, with Cunningham’s versatility, he had a different conclusion.
“I think next year, the Cade-Ivey-Miller, if you want to win games to start the season next year, I think that’s the lineup because I think the Scoot-Ivey-Cade lineup is going to take some time to figure out. I think it has a higher overall upside just cause I believe in those three players more, I obviously think Scoot has a higher ceiling than Brandon Miller. But if you just want to win games next year … the fit just makes so much more sense. Brandon Miller can come in and he can just be a bucket, and let Cade and Ivey create for him.
“Here’s my argument for the Scoot one though, Omari: Don’t we all love Cade because he’s so malleable, because he can do some many different things? The whole idea behind Cade is, okay, he can be your primary creator and let Ivey and Miller cook. Or if Scoot is your primary creator, now Cade can be your primary bucket-getter. So to me, that’s what’s enticing about Cade Cunningham, that’s why I love him as a prospect for this team. So I still think next year, Cade-Ivey-Miller, but long-term, I still am gonna go with Scoot-Ivey-Cade in that one.”
Henderson has been the projected No. 2 overall pick in this summer’s draft most of the season, but Miller’s rise as a 6-foot-9 freshman has made it much more of a debate. He’s currently a far better 3-point shooter and offers great size on both ends of the court at the small forward spot, which the Pistons desperately lack.
Miller had a very poor three-game NCAA tournament performance, as the No. 1 seed Crimson Tide were knocked out in the Sweet 16 by eventual national runner-up San Diego State. Miller shot 0-for-5 (0 points) in the first round, 5-for-17 (19 points) in the second round and 3-for-19 (nine points) vs. the Aztecs, with 10 total turnovers to six assists.
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Henderson, the No. 10 overall recruit in the 2021 class, per the 247Sports composite rankings, toiled with professionals in the less pressurized G League, and combines great ball-handling with quickness and playmaking ability. His jump shot efficiency needs refinement. Miller was the No. 14 overall recruit in the 2022 class on the 247Sports composite rankings.
The Pistons have four games remaining entering Tuesday night and sit at the bottom of the standings with a league-worst 16-62 record. Their odds at the No. 2 pick are 13.4%, with a 12.7% chance of getting No. 3. They have a 14% chance at No. 1, the same odds as Houston and San Antonio. The Pistons, if they finish with the worst record, will be guaranteed a top-five pick, and will have 47.9% odds of falling all the way to No. 5.
So, if the Pistons do get the No. 2 or 3 selection, what do you hope happens with their pick?
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Catch the entire podcast from the live show (with video) below from Hopcat Detroit, where the fellas debated the Pistons’ ceiling next season and answered many more fan questions.
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