2024 NBA Draft Preview

The NBA Draft is upon us, and even though I am not a huge fan of NBA basketball, I do always love drafts. Plus, I support my Pistons, even when they are down as bad as they are right now.

This year’s draft is a bit out of the ordinary from past years in that there is not a single guy in this class that really stands out above the rest. Pretty much every single player in this draft has at least one or two glaring weaknesses, which makes it hard to feel really good about drafting any of them. There is no Victor Wembanyama, Zion Williamson, LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, or any other guys that fall into that echelon of prospects from recent years.

So, even though the Pistons got completely screwed by the worst thing to ever come to the world of sports, the Draft Lottery, it theoretically does not hurt them too bad for this draft specifically. That still does not change the fact that I am still really upset we slipped all the way to Pick 5 again despite how awful we were last season.

Despite all that, there are two guys that I think I can pretty much guarantee will not be on the board for the Pistons, Alex Sarr and Zaccharie Risacher. The first overall pick, belonging to the Atlanta Hawks, is still being debated as I write this, but as of now Risacher is the front runner, and Sarr will then most likely go second overall to the Washington Wizards. Sarr was the longtime favorite to go first overall, but things have changed recently as the draft approaches.

I have split the rest of the top prospects into two groups: players that I think we might take at Pick 5, and players that I think are better suited as targets if we choose to trade down and acquire more assets.

The Pick At 5

After Risacher and Sarr presumably go off the board at 1 and 2 (in whatever order), my guess is that two of the four players in this group will also be off the board by the time the Pistons pick. If the Pistons stand pat, they will probably select one of the remaining players in this group.

Reed Sheppard - Guard - Kentucky - 6’ 2”, 182 lbs., 6’ 3” Wingspan

The number one player I would like the Pistons to land in this draft, and unfortunately, he is also the least likely of this group to be available. I think he is almost guaranteed to go off the board before the Pistons at Pick 5, most likely to the Rockets at Pick 3. The reason I want him is simple, Sheppard is a SHOOTER. His 3-point shooting percentage from last season is 52%. Yes, statistically speaking when he took a 3-pointer last season, the shot was more likely to go in than to miss. That is just insane. He is also crafty around the basket, and an underrated defender. He has quick hands and good instincts defensively, averaging 2.5 steals per game.

Now, he is not a perfect prospect by any means. Obviously, his size is concerning, and the NBA is full of players that you can envision would be able to take advantage of his size. He also does not have the athleticism to play above the rim, and his handle needs some improvement, too, but he showed at Kentucky that he is plenty capable of being a playmaker, although he may be better off playing off-ball, which works for the Pistons since we already have Cade Cunningham running the point.

To me, his positives far outweigh his negatives, and if he somehow falls to 5 and the Pistons do not take him, I think it would be a massive mistake.

Donovan Clingan - Center - UConn - 7’ 2”, 282 lbs., 7’ 7” Wingspan

Big, strong, and an absolute force on a UConn team that just repeated as National Champions, Clingan is one of the more popular players in this class simply because it is really easy to see what he will contribute from Day 1 as a rookie. With his massive 7’ 7” wingspan, he looks like he will be great at all things on the interior: shot blocking, rebounding, finishing at the rim, etc. During UConn’s incredible season, he showed the ability to hold his ground defensively outside the paint as well, moving pretty well for his size. The argument could be made that he has the highest floor in this entire draft class.

Unfortunately, his ceiling is kind of a question mark. While he does move decently well for his size, as I said earlier, he does not move well enough to defend out on the perimeter, so he is likely limited to playing in and around the paint. He also does not seem to project as a shooter, not taking many 3’s and only shooting 57% from the free throw line last season.

I personally do not really want the Pistons to take Clingan, unless they intend to trade him on the night of the draft. Part of it is, I am still a believer in Jalen Duren (who is the same age as Clingan), and the other part is that Clingan’s ceiling is just a bit too low for my liking. He will probably be a solid NBA player, but I just do not like him enough to want him on the Pistons.

Stephon Castle - Guard - UConn - 6’ 5.5”, 210 lbs., 6’ 9” Wingspan

The other star in UConn’s Natty run, Castle made some headlines early in the draft process by saying he did not want to go to a team that has an established point guard. Now, that does not mean that just because the Pistons have Cade Cunningham, they will not look at taking Castle, but I do not think he will land here, and I will get to why in a minute. As for Castle’s ability, he just looks like he has an incredible feel for the game. He is very comfortable handling the ball, is a good passer/playmaker, and showed plenty of ability to finish around the rim. It is easy to see why he sees himself as a point guard. His best trait is by far his defense, with his size and length, he is fantastic on-ball and he never quits on a play.

Now, Castle has one glaring weakness. The guy cannot shoot. I mean, like, he couldn't hit water if he fell out of a boat. He shot 26.7% from 3-point range last season, and even when he was on fire, he never seemed to shoot it consistently from range. This is the exact kind of backcourt mate we do NOT need to bring in next to Cade.

I like the majority of Castle’s game a lot, but I am not confident that his jumper is ever going to get right.

Matas Buzelis - Forward - G League Ignite - 6’ 9”, 197 lbs., 6’ 10” Wingspan

At one point considered the top prospect in this draft, Buzelis has fallen down boards a bit. In all the mock drafts I have seen, Buzelis is far and away the one player mocked the most to the Pistons at 5. Why? Well, for one, he will almost certainly be available. Two, and I am only partially joking, he is represented by Michael Tellem, who is the son of the Pistons’ vice chairman, Arn Tellem. It is well-documented that we have a history of bringing in players represented by Michael, which I think has to be one of the stupidest trends I have ever seen in a sports team.

Anyways, on to Buzelis the player. What is he good at? It is kind of hard to say. The G League Ignite, a G League team created so high school players could play there instead of going to college, was such a disaster that the NBA is shutting down the team moving forward. The players on that team were put in such a terrible spot that it is hard to analyze them fairly. That being said, Buzelis strikes me as a bit of a jack of all trades, master of none type of player. He is a good passer, has nice touch on his floaters and shots from the post, moves well off the ball, and shows some ability as a defender. He actually reminds me quite a bit of Franz Wagner at Michigan,. He has a similar long build, although I think Wagner was much more polished than Buzelis. He also has a smooth set of moves like step backs and shimmies that he uses to create space for his shots.

The biggest knock on Buzelis is that he is an inconsistent shooter. Now, what makes him different from someone like Castle is that he was a good shooter his last year of high school (43% from 3), but this past season in the G League he shot a mere 27%. Part of that could be attributed to the fact that he went from the high school 3-point line to the NBA 3-point line, which is a massive jump. It could also mean, however, that his last year of high school was just an outlier. The other thing about his game that scares me the most is his ball handling. He sometimes looks straight-up clumsy on the court. That sort of thing must be tightened up or he is going to be a turnover machine. We saw Ausar Thompson struggle with that his rookie year, and I think Buzelis might be even worse.

I have tried to talk myself into liking Buzelis just because of how much I have seen him mocked to the Pistons, but I just cannot bring myself to believe that he will develop in the NBA. Although, at the same time, I can at least see a world where his jumper does come around. I would personally trade down if he is the best guy on the board at Pick 5.

Trade Down Targets

Speaking of trading down, I think there is a really good chance that the Pistons do it in this draft. We have a new front office regime headed by Trajan Langdon, and I have to imagine they would see the benefit in trading back and acquiring additional assets. If they do, I think these guys are much more likely to end up as the selection than if the Pistons stay put at Pick 5. Of course, if there are not any offers for the Pistons to trade back from this spot, they could always choose to just take one of these guys at Pick 5 if they like them enough.

Ron Holland - Wing - G League Ignite - 6’ 6.5”, 197 lbs., 6’ 11” Wingspan

The other top prospect from the G League Ignite team, Holland has seen his draft stock fluctuate wildly from a top 5 pick all the way to the end of the lottery. I think he should fall somewhere between the two, personally, which makes him a prime option for a potential trade back.

The one thing that stands out when you watch Holland is he is an incredible athlete. He is great in all aspects of the fast break, he is fast, springy, has a good handle, looks for the open man, and is a great finisher with both layups and dunks. He had some crazy highlight reel dunks last season. He also showed well on the defensive end, able to defend multiple positions thanks to his quickness as well as his length, and with his athleticism he can really get up and block shots.

But, guess what? He cannot shoot. Truly an alarming trend with this year’s class of prospects. He also shot 27% from 3-point range, just like Buzelis, but his jumper looks really stiff when comparing the two. He also is not good in isolation, so he will likely struggle in any half-court offense scenario where he has the ball in his hands. Will he ever be able to develop a shot or any consistent offensive game when he is not on a fast break? Those two things are really hard to develop, but they will be the key in determining if he sticks in the league as anything more than an athletic bench piece.

I feel like drafting Holland would be like drafting Ausar Thompson again, but shorter and with a slightly better jump shot (Ausar shot 18% from 3-point last season, ugh). I just feel like there are better options out there, although I think I would prefer a trade down to get Holland than drafting Buzelis at 5, just because I can at least point to one or two things that Holland is definitively good at.

Dalton Knecht - Wing - Tennessee - 6’ 5”, 212 lbs., 6’ 9” Wingspan

One of the most impressive players from this past season of college basketball, Knecht is one of my favorite prospects. He is a pure scorer, capable of knocking down 3-pointers (39.7%), as well as driving and finishing at the rim with athleticism that really jumps off the screen. He can shoot off the dribble with ease, and also flashed the ability at times to be a playmaker and make good passes out of tight spots. He was an absolute joy to watch as Tennessee made a deep run in the March Madness tournament this past season.

The biggest knock about Knecht is he is not a good defender. His lateral quickness leaves quite a bit to be desired, and teams often went after him specifically while at Tennessee. He is also pretty old, at 23 years old already, so that tends to scare some people off because you are looking at a lot of guys at the top of this draft who fall in the 18-20 years old age range.

I think I can say with confidence that he would not be a popular selection on Draft night, but I assure you I would not be one of the people complaining. This team needs scoring, and Knecht brings that in a big way.

Rob Dillingham - Guard - Kentucky - 6’ 1”, 164 lbs., 6’ 3” Wingspan

The other hotshot freshman guard alongside Reed Sheppard at Kentucky, Dillingham has seen his stock fall a bit over the draft process, largely due to his size. When you watch him play, however, it is almost impossible to not get excited about his ability. He is just electric with the ball in his hands, he is lightning quick, has some crazy hops for his size, and is a knockdown shooter (44.4% from 3-point) both off the dribble and in catch-and-shoot spots. Dillingham is also crafty around the basket, able to get his shot up and over much taller defenders. He is very busy on the defensive end, always putting in effort to try to make the play.

Obviously his size is always going to be brought up as a negative, and I cannot sit here and say that is unfair. He weighs about 5-10 pounds more than I do, and it is safe to say I would get knocked around like crazy in the NBA. It is absolutely a concern at the NBA level where guys are way bigger and stronger. He may not be able to finish around the basket as effectively in the NBA because of this, too. His defense is also sometimes a bit too aggressive, and he will sometimes end up out of position because of it.

The concerns about Dillingham are certainly warranted, but man, it does excite me seeing the kind of scoring output he is capable of. I like what he brings, and I think even though his size is a huge concern, it is causing his draft stock to slip into “underrated” territory.

Cody Williams - Wing - Colorado - 6’ 6.5”, 178 lbs., 7’ 1” Wingspan

Williams is probably the strangest prospect in this entire draft class. He has a lot of on-paper potential, especially with his insanely long 7’ 1” wingspan, and he seems to have a good feel for the game, but he had an insanely underwhelming season at Colorado. One of the main positive points people say about him, in complete sincerity, is that his brother Jalen Williams has been good for the Thunder. That is NOT a legitimate reason to believe in Cody, in my book. Him and his brother are two different people. Giannis Antetokounmpo has three brothers that play basketball too, and they are not even close to being a fraction of the player that Giannis is, because they are not Giannis.

So, what DOES Cody Williams show? Well, obviously his length shows up on tape, he made a lot of nice finishes with those long arms of his, and his defense is predictably versatile with that length, so he looks like he can guard multiple positions. He is also a good ball handler, which is encouraging at his size, and he seems to have a good feel for the game, displaying solid court vision and ability to make the right pass.

But…you probably guessed it by now…he is not a consistent three-point shooter. You cannot just look at his numbers (41.5% from 3-point), because they came on such a low volume of only 1.7 3-point attempts per game, that it is hard to take that number at face value. His form looks okay for the most part, for what it might be worth to you. He also does not have great quickness or explosiveness, which is concerning when playing in the NBA. I watched quite a few Colorado games this past year, and I had to be deliberate about trying to find Williams on the floor because he just seemed to disappear for most of the game.

Williams is such a bizarre case because I do not feel like anyone has any idea what he really is. He may be the biggest risk in the lottery, or even the entire draft. Could he end up being a good NBA player? Yeah, of course. Am I confident that he will be? No, not particularly.

Tidjane Salaun - Forward - France - 6’ 9”, 203 lbs., 7’ 1” Wingspan

A huge riser throughout this draft process, Salaun is a very raw product that shows potential to really develop into a great player. I think part of his rise has simply been because of the lack of true star power in this draft, it has caused people to look further down the board for the guy who could be the overlooked superstar.

On film, I can absolutely see why people are intrigued by Salaun, he moves really well for his size, is a good defender that offers switchability but really shines as an off-ball defender, and even gets hot from 3-point range once in a while, although his average was not great at 31.6%. He operates well off-ball on offense, constantly in motion and either making cuts or setting screens for teammates, and seems to play pretty unselfishly.

When I say Salaun is raw, I think it is safe to say he is the rawest prospect at the top of this class. He has a real loose handle, struggles to make clean passes, and seems to be far more inconsistent when shooting off the dribble. Most of his 3-point makes came from catch-and-shoot opportunities.

I do understand the growing hype for Salaun, and I see the two-way potential that he possesses, but seeing the Pistons take a major project like this would be a bit hard to stomach. Unless, of course, we get a really good return on the trade down.

Devin Carter - Guard - Providence - 6’ 2”, 193 lbs., 6’ 9” Wingspan

The last prospect we will look at here is another fast riser up draft boards. I admittedly did not watch much of Providence this past season, but Carter was one of the most talked about guards in the country, and for good reason.

Carter showed a pretty complete game last season. He is a fantastic on-ball defender, and with his long arms he can switch to a bigger player and still hold his own. He is also a scoring machine, able to finish at the rim in a variety of ways, and shot 37.7% from 3-point range, including some DEEP threes from well beyond the line. He also has great vision, able to hit his teammates with accurate passes to set them up for a clean shot.

There are only two things that stand out in a negative light. The first, and most obvious, is that his jump shot form is ugly. He has a very slow release that just looks awkward, and I worry about how easily he will be able to get that off in the NBA. That being said, his shots go in, so somehow it works for him. The other thing is that his handle, while not terrible, is not great either. He operates best as a playmaker when he is driving to the basket.

Carter may be one of the best all-around prospects in this entire class, and with his ability to score, I think he would be a great running mate with Cade Cunningham in Detroit’s backcourt.

My Selection

Now, after you read all of that, I would be remiss if I did not provide you with what I would do with the Pistons’ 5th overall pick.

To be completely honest, this is an extremely frustrating group of prospects to pick from because, as I am sure you noticed, so many of them cannot shoot with any level of consistency. It will never cease to amaze me how players can play basketball for as long as these guys have and still not be able to shoot the ball. Furthermore, the ones that CAN shoot all have other glaring issues in their game.

In recent memory, the Pistons have long been victims of drafting a player and saying, “Well, hopefully he figures out how to shoot at some point,” and then they never do. Guys like Stanley Johnson and Killian Hayes come to mind off the top of my head, and of course it is too early to say on guys like Jaden Ivey and Ausar Thompson, but they have been streaky and abysmal, respectively, to this point of their NBA careers shooting the ball. I know the Pistons hired Fred Vinson, a coach who is well-known for being one of the best shot doctors in the NBA. That does not mean I am suddenly very confident that Ivey, Thompson, and anyone we draft will magically become great shooters, but I guess it at least inspires a little hope that it could happen.

If I were the GM, the obvious take would be Reed Sheppard at 5, but like I said, I do not think he is going to be available. With that in mind, I would trade back in some capacity and try to get one of Dalton Knecht, Devin Carter, or Rob Dillingham. Any of these 3 would add some much-needed scoring that the Pistons can count on without needing to hope and pray that they develop a jump shot.

I think the only pick I would strongly dislike is Donovan Clingan, I just do not see the ceiling with him being high enough for me to like that selection. I would rather take someone else and ride with Jalen Duren at center.

If the Pistons decide to go with one of the other guys, I will have very clear and evident reservations about the pick, but of course I will still be pulling for the guy to turn into a superstar. I care far more about my team being good than I care about being right.

That concludes my 2024 NBA Draft Preview. I hope you found it helpful and that you feel familiar with the names that will be called in the top portion of the draft. Let’s hope the Pistons and their new front office led by Trajan Langdon can make the right selection.

Go Pistons.