NBA mock draft 3.0: Detroit Pistons have worked out 6 players for No. 5 pick

The NBA draft is Thursday. A wide range of outcomes remain possible for the Detroit Pistons, who are in a precarious position with the fifth overall pick.

They’ll be able to choose from a variety of wings and forwards who would address various needs, both short and long term. They have worked out, according to team sources, Overtime Elite twins Amen and Ausar Thompson, Villanova freshman Cam Whitmore, Houston freshman Jarace Walker, UCF freshman Taylor Hendricks and Arkansas freshman Anthony Black in the past two weeks. All six players are lottery locks, and at least five of them will likely be available when the Pistons are on the clock.

Of course, they could also trade the pick to move down the draft order, or for more immediate and proven help. We know general manager Troy Weaver isn’t shy about making moves to improve the roster. The draft picture will continue to evolve into Thursday night.

In our penultimate mock draft, we predict the top-five picks, and make a selection at the top of the second round for the Pistons at No. 31.

1. San Antonio Spurs: PF/C Victor Wembanyama, Metropolitans 92

Vitals: 7 feet 5, 220 pounds; will turn 20 in January.

Averages: 21.6 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 3.0 blocks, 47% overall, 27.5% from 3 (five attempts).

We all know Wembanyama — widely believed to be the best NBA prospect since LeBron James — will be the first overall pick. He blocks everything near the rim, and handles the ball like a wing. We’ve never seen a prospect like him, and the Spurs would be foolish to consider another player.

2. Charlotte Hornets: PG Scoot Henderson, G League Ignite

Vitals: 6-2, 195; will turn 20 in February.

Averages: 17.6 points, 6.6 assists, 5.1 rebounds, 1.2 steals, 44.4% overall, 32.4% from 3 (2.7 attempts).

There does not feel a wrong answer for Charlotte, but it’s a tough decision nonetheless between Henderson and Alabama freshman Brandon Miller. Henderson — an explosive guard whose game recalls the prime versions of Russell Westbrook, Derrick Rose and John Wall — would be a candidate to go first overall in many drafts. But it’s unclear how well he would fit next to LaMelo Ball, a 6-7 wizard with the ball in his hands, who would have to play off ball more often alongside Henderson.

Having two skilled ballhandlers is hardly a curse in today’s NBA, though, and the Hornets are better off drafting for upside rather than fit. Miller is the cleaner fit, but Henderson might have the most star power of any prospect not named Victor.

3. Portland Trail Blazers: F Brandon Miller, Alabama

Vitals: 6-9, 200; will turn 21 in November.

Averages: 18.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.9 blocks, 43% overall, 38.4% from 3 (7.5 attempts).

Miller is both the best fit and best available player for Portland, which is reportedly weighing trading the pick for immediate help for superstar Damian Lillard. They should have plenty of offers on draft night, considering Miller’s status as the best wing in the draft.

He’s a lights-out shooter with solid passing vision, great size for his position, and competes defensively. All 30 teams have a need for Miller’s skillset. He’s good enough for Portland to strongly consider keeping the pick.

4. Houston Rockets: PG Amen Thompson, Overtime Elite

Vitals: 6-7, 214; will turn 21 in January.

Averages: 16.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 2.3 steals, 56.6% overall, 25% from 3 (2.7 attempts).

The draft starts with Houston, which has a very clear need for a true point guard. Thompson and Villanova freshman Cam Whitmore are the two players it has been connected to the most, but Thompson is one of the best point guards in the draft. Whitmore is a talented player but averaged more turnovers than assists in college. With Jabari Smith Jr. and Jalen Green already on the Rockets’ roster, Whitmore would duplicate their strengths without addressing what they need the most.

James Harden reportedly is considering a reunion in Houston, and would be its starting point guard if signed. But he turns 34 in August, and the Rockets need to draft for the future. So we’ll stick with Thompson here. He’s the draft’s best athlete, possessing a lightning-quick first step, high vertical and great body control in the air. His game is reminiscent of a taller version of Ja Morant, but his lack of outside shooting and questions about Overtime Elite’s competition quality have prevented him from cracking the second-tier of prospects, alongside Henderson and Miller.

5. Detroit Pistons: F Cam Whitmore, Villanova

Vitals: 6-7, 235; will turn 19 in July.

Averages: 12.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 0.7 assists, 47.8% overall, 34.3% from 3 (4.2 attempts).

The Pistons will be able to pick from most of the draft’s best wings. And they have a clear need at small forward. It doesn’t quite blunt the impact of falling four spots in the draft order, but they should still feel good about their options.

We’re sticking with Whitmore here, as his outside shooting, interior finishing and defensive tools makes him a clean fit on the roster. He knocked down 40% of his catch-and-shoot 3-pointers last season, and had clean footwork on stepbacks. He was an intuitive cutter off-ball, and could get to the rim with the ball with his handle and strength. Opposing players bounce off of him. He finished a scorching 72.3% of his attempts at the rim, according to cbbanalytics.com, thanks to his body control and ability to rise above defenders or plow through them. He has the skillset to be a three-level, efficient scorer in the NBA.

But he turned the ball over 42 times with a paltry 19 assists in 26 games. It caps his upside, and the Pistons’ front office will have to evaluate if he can improve his processing and not be a ball-stopper on offense. He is one of the youngest prospects in the draft, so he still has a lot of development ahead of him. Beyond the lack of playmaking, he’s otherwise a great fit for a Pistons team that has two lead ball-handlers in Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey, and could use a two-way wing who can play off of them.

Hendricks is also a very clean fit, considering his prototypical size for a power forward, defensive instincts and shooting touch. He has fans in the front office, after shooting 39.4% from 3, with 1.7 blocks and nearly a full steal per game. The Pistons could play him at center in small lineups, and perhaps even at the “3” in big lineups.

The Thompson twins are electric athletes, and Ausar is the superior shooter between the two. Black is well-rounded, yet lacking a proven outside shot. His mechanics are not broken. The Pistons could still go a number of directions, and have a few days remaining to finalize their board.

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31. Detroit Pistons: F Maxwell Lewis, Pepperdine

Vitals: 6-7, 195; will turn 21 in July.

Averages: 17.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 46.8% overall, 34.8% from 3 (4.3 attempts).

It’s tough to know exactly who will be available at the top of the second round, given that any prospect in that range could conceivably be drafted as high as No. 20. But Lewis will make a lot of sense if he’s there. The sophomore is a capable outside shooter with a 7-foot wingspan, giving him the length to defend multiple positions. He was an efficient all-around scorer for a Pepperdine team that won just nine games last season, and would fill a clear role for a team that needs scoring and defense on the wing.

Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @omarisankofa.

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