I have the Detroit Pistons selecting Cam Whitmore fifth overall in my latest mock draft. The Villanova freshman is widely viewed around the NBA and by draft experts as a high-ceiling, hyper-athletic scorer who could reach the NBA’s upper echelon of talent if he develops his court vision.
He fills several needs for the Pistons, who have a glaring hole at both forward positions. But he’s not the only player in their range who would.
At this stage in the process, there’s no clear-cut best option with the fifth overall pick. The Pistons need a versatile forward who can defend, hit shots and occasionally relieve some playmaking responsibilities off of Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey. They won’t be able to draft anyone who immediately checks every box during Thursday’s draft, but they’ve worked out six players who eventually could.
In addition to Whitmore, the Pistons have also worked out Overtime Elite twins Amen and Ausar Thompson, Houston freshman Jarace Walker, UCF freshman Taylor Hendricks and Arkansas freshman Anthony Black in the last two weeks, according to team sources. All six players are essentially lottery locks, and at least five will be available for the Pistons to choose from, barring a surprise drop by Brandon Miller or Scoot Henderson from the top three.
It may not feel like it after the perilous drop in May’s NBA draft lottery, but the Pistons are in a great position. This year’s draft isn’t great for teams with glaring needs for a big man or lead ball-handler. But the Pistons have thoroughly addressed both those groups, using prime draft capital on Cunningham and Ivey, as well as Killian Hayes, Isaiah Stewart and Jalen Duren in recent seasons.
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If Detroit’s front office has its way, Thursday’s draft will be the last time the Pistons have a top-five selection for a long while. The team wants to be good, sooner rather than later. They need to make Thursday’s selection count, and Whitmore might give them their best chance of adding another star who can thrive alongside Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey.
After a 17-win season, my belief is that the Pistons should swing for upside. There’s a lot to like about Whitmore’s powerful game, and he’s still 18-years-old with a lot of development ahead of him. But some would argue that Amen Thompson — with his elite athleticism, playmaking and defensive tools — is the upside play. Others might say that rather than prioritizing potential, the Pistons should aim for a player who has a greater chance to fill a needed role, such as Walker or Hendricks.
The Pistons are internally debating the same topics. They have three days to finalize their draft board. Soon, we’ll have a clearer idea of where their priorities lie.
Why Whitmore’s upside pushes him over the top (for now)
Whitmore’s appeal lies not just in his floor-spacing (40% on catch-and-shoot attempts, 34.3% overall from 3 with a lot of self-created attempts mixed in) and efficiency at the rim. He’s a highlight-reel athlete who will put opposing defenders on posters. At 6-foot-7 and 235 pounds, he’s a good ball-handler who uses his body to move defenders out of the way. He also had a healthy steal rate, which is typically an indicator of how well a prospect will translate to the NBA.
But the biggest thing Whitmore has going for him might be his age. He won’t turn 19 until July and was often the youngest player on the floor in college. He physically dominated older players and it allowed him to be one of college basketball’s most efficient paint scorers. Without the ball, he was an active cutter who barreled through open lanes. With the ball, he was able to beat defenders with his quick first step and create space when necessary.
His age also makes it a little easier to forgive his biggest red flag — his lack of playmaking. He averaged just 0.7 assists against 1.6 turnovers per game, and he won’t get close to his NBA ceiling if he doesn’t address his ball-hog tendencies. It’s not that he can’t pass, but that he rarely wanted to when he sensed an opportunity to score the ball. To his credit, he scored the ball effectively. But the Pistons and other teams will have to evaluate if his historically-low assist rate suggests deeper issues.
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In Detroit, Whitmore could play to his strengths. His off-ball shooting and cutting would make him a dangerous weapon next to Cunningham and Ivey. Plus, the Pistons wouldn’t have to ask him to do too much.
Whitmore will also generate a lot of gravity, as he’ll draw multiple defenders when he drives. He won’t need to be LeBron James — he’ll just need to make the simple reads.
Villanova, as a team, struggled to move the ball in Kyle Neptune’s first full season as head coach. Whitmore didn’t raise their playmaking floor, but that doesn’t mean he’s doomed as a playmaker in the NBA.
The case for a safer pick
If the Pistons wish to prioritize defense, all five of their other options possess great potential in that area. Walker, a sturdily-built 6-foot-8 forward who averaged 1.3 blocks and one steal during his freshman season, is one of the best defensive prospects in the draft. He was a wrecking ball near the rim and was able to stick with smaller players on the perimeter. He also flashed strong passing instincts and shot 34.7% from 3. He’ll have to prove he can continue improving his shooting, but he fits Detroit’s hard-nosed mantra.
Hendricks and Black, too, are some of the draft’s best defenders. Hendricks, a 6-foot-9 forward, is a skilled weakside shot blocker who can switch and knock down 3-pointers (39.4% on 4.6 attempts). And Black was an engaged point-of-attack defender who should be able to defend multiple positions in the NBA at 6-foot-7. The Thompson twins, both gifted athletes standing around 6-foot-7, have the tools to enter the conversation.
If Detroit wants playmaking, they can go that route too. At the NBA draft combine in May, Black said he views himself as a true point guard. Many draft experts agree. He’s a big playmaker like Oklahoma City’s Josh Giddey, and averaged 3.9 assists per game on an Arkansas team with cramped spacing. Black only shot 30.1% from 3, but he’s otherwise a complete prospect who would give the Pistons an effective defender, playmaker and downhill scorer.
And both of the Thompson twins have strong playmaking chops. Amen is widely viewed as a big guard, and Ausar is more of a wing. But both averaged around six assists per game. Ausar is the cleaner fit with the Pistons, as he shot 15-for-39 (38.5) in the OTE playoffs after knocking down just under 30% of his attempts in the regular season. Perhaps it was just a hot streak, but it also points to shooting upside. Amen shot just 23.3% from 3 in the regular season.
It’s a deep, talented crop of forwards and wings. The Pistons will have a difficult choice to make.