The Detroit Pistons are very much in the running to finish with the worst record in the league. It’s no secret the Pistons are in the beginning stages of a massive rebuild that hasn’t quite gone as planned.
This naturally leads Pistons fans to look towards the NBA draft. Fortunately, a top-five pick is almost certainly coming their way. The Pistons roster has talent but is clunky in terms of fit, and players don’t complement each other. They don’t have the luxury of truly prioritizing fit in the draft though since more high-end talent is needed. Nikola Topic is a perfect example of this conundrum. While Topic is a top-five talent, the Pistons already have a plethora of plus-sized lead guards who are developing themselves.
Regardless, to ensure they don’t stifle their young players’ development, moves will need to be made that create a more complimentary and competitive roster.
Let’s take a look at the top prospects in the 2024 NBA draft for the Detroit Pistons!
Detroit Pistons 2024 NBA Draft Prospects:
1) Zaccharie Risacher: JL Bourg (France)
Zaccharie Risacher is a six-foot-nine French wing with a lot of upside. Risacher’s stock has been consistently high this season, and he’s in the mix for number one overall. Risacher would be the Pistons’ perfect draft prospect who could combine fit, talent, and upside.
He’s shot the ball extremely well from three this season, combining that with some flashes of creation ability. He’s also shown great value as a secondary playmaker to go along with his ‘3-and-D’ wing archetype. This archetype makes his floor somewhat safe, and there’s still a lot of untapped potential in his athleticism and physical growth.
Risacher could be the perfect complimentary wing piece that the Pistons could continue to build around with a young core.
2) Alexandre Sarr: Perth Wildcats (NBL Australia)
Alex Sarr is a French big man who plays in the NBL out of Australia. As a Pistons’ draft prospect, this could be choosing talent over fit as Sarr is currently heralded as the draft’s top prospect. Sarr is extremely mobile for his size standing at a lanky seven-foot-one with a seven-foot-five wingspan. He’s already NBA-ready on the defensive end blocking shots and using his length and mobility on the perimeter.
This easily projected defensive skillset puts him at number one in a draft class with so many uncertainties. While the fit with Jalen Duren is questionable, Sarr does possess the upside to become complimentary to a traditional center. He’s shown flashes of intriguing offensive skill in face-ups and three-point shooting.
3) Cody Williams: Colorado
Cody Williams has shot up draft boards this season with the consensus being a top-five pick currently. He’s a six-foot-eight slender wing in his freshman season at Colorado this year. He hasn’t shown the three-point shooting or athletic flashes that Risacher’s shown this year, but he’s been extremely effective. Williams is also the younger brother of star NBA guard Jalen Williams of the Oklahoma City Thunder. As a Pistons draft prospect, he could also complement the current roster as a do-it-all wing. He’s a smooth and fluid athlete who looks to have a very polished all-around game for his age. Young wings with production and upside like Williams are always at the top of the draft.
Final Thoughts:
The real problem for the Pistons will be if the draft lottery treats them poorly, and these three prospects aren’t available at their pick. This would likely mean falling to pick five for the second year in a row, or possibly even pick six. In this scenario, there are still some talents worth looking at though.
If they still want a complimentary prospect with plus shooting then there’s Ja’Kobe Walter, Reed Sheppard, or Matas Buzelis. If they want high upside and talent regardless of fit, then Topic and Ron Holland could be of interest.
While this season has been bleak, there is reason to have hope as a Pistons fan. They should have the ability to draft a great prospect to add to their young core.
