| Pistons Draft Preview Authored by Dave Philips - June 27, 2005 - 6:48 pm
There is no doubt that the Detroit Pistons' season ended on a sour note last Thursday. However, there's no rest for the weary, as the NBA Draft is scheduled for Tuesday. Detroit obviously needs a good addition or two to keep up with Miami, Indiana, San Antonio and the rest of the NBA contenders.
Detroit picks 26th in the first round, and they also have two second round picks, 56 and 60. Rumors have been flying ever since the season ended about just what Detroit will decide to do with these picks. There is a lack of a consensus on who they'll pick in the first round.
Obviously whoever it is won't be starting anytime soon. They won't even be a sixth man. But the Pistons need a scorer off the bench badly, someone who can come in and energize a sometimes stagnant offense. Some names that have been thrown about are Luther Head, leading scorer of the NCAA runner-up Illinois Fighting Illini this year. They are also looking at 6'3” point guard Jarrett Jack, a junior out of Georgia Tech.
However, there are three more probable options for Detroit in the draft. They've worked out shooting guard C.J. Miles, a very developed high school player, and 6'7” guard Julius Hodge. Trading up is a possibility as well, as the Pistons are more interested in Francisco Garcia, a 6'7” forward entering the draft as a junior from Louisville, who is doubtful to fall to them at 26. Other names mentioned for the Pistons at 26 include Salim Stoudamire, Ryan Gomes, and a few more international players. Tayshaun Prince was drafted at 22 in 2002. Detroit will look to make a similar steal with this pick.
The second round is even more unclear. The Pistons could end up taking any of the above mentioned players here if they fall, or they could trade the picks in order to move up.
Speaking of trades, the Pistons have been involved in a few more trade rumors involving players rather than picks.. It has been no secret that Carlos Delfino is extremely upset, and he was quoted in an Argentinian newspaper this weekend as saying if Larry Brown returns, he wants out. There's also a possibility of a trade involving somebody like Carlos Arroyo or even Darko Milicic. Memphis is looking to ship Bonzi Wells, and Detroit is reportedly one of the interested teams. The Grizzlies say they'd like to ship Wells by draft day, so keep an eye on that.
Detroit has many more options than they did last year, when they had just one, late second round pick, which they used on Ricky Paulding. Paulding will be playing on the Pistons summer league team along with Milicic, Delfino, Rodney Billups and a host of others. The development of some of these players, along with rumors that Detroit may sign Larry Hughes, and also with Jalen Rose as well as possibly Allan Houston and Michael Finley available in free agency this summer, the Pistons have an ample opportunity to improve this team. This off season promises to be one of the most interesting ones in recent memory, and it all begins Tuesday. |
