The Detroit Pistons shake things up, and in a good way!

It’s a very weird sentiment to feel so positive about the Pistons franchise. Blake Griffin’s All-NBA run last year was a bright spot in an otherwise painfully forgettable last few seasons, perpetuating the struggles of a rebuild that followed their dominant run in the early 00s. And even so, Blake’s season was disappointingly derailed by a left knee injury from which he is yet to fully recover.

But maybe, just maybe, draft night was a sign that things are heading in a better direction in the Motor City. This past June, Troy Weaver was hired to fill the vacancy of the team’s general manger. The former vice-president of basketball operations in OKC under Sam Presti - current owner of 357 future draft picks - showed an aggressiveness worthy his former boss and attacked the draft from all angles.

The night began with acquiring the #16 pick from Houston by eating the salary of Trevor Ariza and sending back only one “heavily protected” pick (1). The Rockets also bought Detroit’s 2021 second round pick for $4.6 Million - a high sum that is transparent financial support towards Ariza’s salary. The 1st round representation would only grow when they brilliantly positioned themselves, leveraging the Clippers switching Landry Shamet for Luke Kennard, to then move the former to Brooklyn for pick #19. Similar to the first trade, they relieve the salary bill of the Clippers by taking in Rodney McGruder (2). With barely any real cost, the front office now had control of 3 picks in the top 20 of the draft.

With the lack of a proper creator on the perimeter, the Pistons embraced the upside-focused decision of selecting Killian Hayes with the 7th overall pick. A fresh 19 years of age, with a commanding body for his position and a ton of feel for the game, he fills a need very clearly by virtue of exquisite passing out of pick-and-rolls. But his shooting and athleticism are real swing-skills and, while he has a nice pull up shot and a Harden-esque step-back, his shooting numbers are frightening (27.2% in a sample of around 400 3 point attempts over 3 years) and the lack of athleticism might hinder his ability to gain separation. While these criticisms for a European tall guard may evoke the Luka skeptics (3), the resumes are not comparable and Hayes comes in with the need to prove he can make the jump to facing NBA-calibre defenses. Regardless of how much he’s able to actualize his playmaking, this is the type of situation where this calculated risk makes the most sense. 

The next selection was Isaiah Stewart at #16, a hard-nosed big that will relentlessly  battle in the paint and flashing a wide selection of post-moves. He’s a legit boulder of a man, nearing 250 pounds in his 6’9 frame with a 7’4 wingspan, a high motor and a scary sight running up and down the floor. He lacks the agility to defend in space and, despite his positional instincts making him able to overtake bigger players for boards, the sub-par height in his jump means a lack of vertical gravity rolling to the rim (and that’s for a player that can’t really pass on the move or in the high post). He’ll fit right in with a team that was 6th and 11th in offensive boards the last couple of years but it’s fair to wonder both if his weaknesses take too much value away in a pick-and-roll heavy league and if it’s ideal to draft a big at this stage if you intend to re-sign Wood. However, there is little doubt he’ll outwork the competition, which for a 19 year old, usually translates in visible improvement.

Finally, 21-year-old Saddiq Bey, one of the main wings in the draft, is picked at #19. In an NBA where a 3&D wing that does’t require the ball in his hands is the premium role player it is not difficult to see the appeal of Bey: He shot over 45% from deep in his junior season at Villanova, has strong spacial recognition and is a good defender, displaying the switchability to cover multiple positions. His shots will have to be created by others - he might never be more than a spot up shooter - but the reliability of a role player that a coach can trust is a fantastic get at this point of the draft. And with Kennard on the last year before hitting the market, it is a great turnaround for a new shooter that resets the clock with a team controlled deal.

Saben Lee would join the ranks by means of the 38th overall pick (obtained in salary dump of Tony Bradley). I am not aware of him so I’ll only forward what I read: A ridiculously athletic guard but lacks any other stand out skill. From what I gather it was a bit of a reach but considering the stakes of such a late pick, this hardly feels like a negative.

In the space of one night, the Pistons went from afterthought to receiving love from all the NBA junkies on the new young core, formed in seemingly out-of-nowhere fashion. The questions now turn to the ability to retain Christian Wood, one of the most intriguing free agents in a very star-deprived class and potentially a part of a very fun duo with Hayes. Having to pay a 4-year player as an unrestricted free agent is something a team never does too happily but, after this season, the Pistons sizeable salary obligations begin and end with Blake Griffin. Detroit has a respectable list of young players (Doumbouya will only turn 20 after the season starts), flexibility on the horizon and, maybe the most exciting thing of all, a front office that seemingly walks the line between diligence and aggressiveness.

It certainly took its time, but the rebuild may be finally underway.

[Mediummedi]

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(1) For the curious, it is top-16 protected for 4 years, turns into a top-10 protected pick for the following 2 years, top-9 protected the following year and, if it somehow makes it to end of this marathon without ever being conveyed to Houston, it becomes two second round draft picks.

(2) Or if you are Doc Rivers looking at his bench during the Denver series: “Who?”

(3) It’s laughable how much some overthought the entire thing.