The Detroit Pistons had the worst record in the NBA this season at 17-65. As a result, they shared the highest odds of landing the No. 1 overall pick in the draft lottery at 14.0 percent. However, they fell into their worst-case scenario, landing the No. 5 pick.<\/p>\n
Despite their poor lottery luck, the Pistons still have solid options projected to be available at their pick. They desperately need a wing to pair alongside their promising core of Cade Cunningham<\/a><\/strong>, Jaden Ivey<\/a><\/strong>, and Jalen Duren<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n These four players made the list of draft options as they are both talented prospects and fit the Pistons’ positional needs.<\/p>\n Taylor Hendricks<\/span><\/strong><\/a>‘ 3-and-D skill set gives him a high floor and makes him a relatively safe pick<\/a>. However, he also flashes much more potential and could be able to create his own shot at the next level as well. At Central Florida, Hendricks averaged 15.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.7 blocks, and 0.9 steals per game on 48\/39\/78 shooting splits. <\/span><\/p>\n He’s everything teams are looking for in a modern-day power forward. Hendrick possesses a 6-foot-9 frame, shooting, rebounding, versatility, and rim protection. <\/span><\/p>\n Hendricks may not have the same upside as picks going around this range, meaning he likely will never be a superstar or go-to scorer. But his skill set is highly coveted in the NBA and should lead to a successful career.<\/span><\/p>\n Cam Whitmore<\/span><\/strong><\/a>\u00a0fits the Pistons’ style and team identity as a bruising, 232-pound forward. As a freshman at Villanova, Whitmore averaged 12.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 0.7 assists, and 1.4 steals per game on 48\/34\/70 shooting splits.<\/span><\/p>\n At 6-foot-7, Whitmore possesses the size and athleticism to make him a great two-way player and could be the wing defender that Detroit has been missing, evidenced by his 1.4 steals per game at Villanova.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Some areas of improvement for Whitmore<\/a> are his shooting and passing. He likely wouldn’t be relied on much to be a playmaker in Detroit, with Cunningham and Ivey having the ball for most possessions. However, he needs to become a more reliable knockdown shooter to space the floor for those two. <\/span>Still, Whitmore is great at creating his own shot and getting to the rim and could be utilized as another scoring option.<\/span><\/p>\n Nonetheless, Whitmore could be a great option as a two-way forward. In fact, he’s been projected to be selected by the Pistons in other mock drafts, including Bleacher Report<\/a>.<\/p>\n Jarace Walker<\/a><\/strong> is a Swiss army knife-type player that could impact the Pistons on both sides of the court. During his freshman year at Houston, Walker averaged 11.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 1.0 steals per game on 47\/35\/66 shooting splits. Walker isn’t a go-to scorer, which, as mentioned with Hendricks, limits his potential upside as a superstar.<\/p>\n However, Walker is a player that finds a way to win with his intangibles and defense<\/a>. He’s a player that would fit in exceptionally well with the Pistions core and is reminiscent of the “Bad Boy Pistons” of old with his physicality. Additionally, with his versatility and ability to switch onto guards, Walker should be a great defender at the next level.<\/p>\n4 Players Pistons Should Consider at Pick No. 5<\/h2>\n
Pistons Draft Target No. 1 – Taylor Hendricks, F, Central Florida<\/h3>\n
Pistons Draft Target No. 2 – Cam Whitmore, F, Villanova<\/h3>\n
Pistons Draft Target No. 3 – Jarace Walker, F, Houston<\/h3>\n
Pistons Draft Target No. 4 – Ausar Thompson, G\/F, Overtime Elite<\/h3>\n