| 30 Teams, 30 Days: Detroit Draft Preview Authored by Jason M. Williams - June 18, 2009 - 7:42 pm
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2009 Draft Picks: 15th, 35th, 39th, 44th
Pre-Draft 2009-10 Projected Starters:
PG Rodney Stuckey
SG Richard Hamilton
SF Tayshaun Prince
PF Amir Johnson
C Kwame Brown
Key Reserves:
PG Will Bynum
SG Arron Afflalo
SF Walter Herrmann
PF Jason Maxiell
What The Pistons Do Well:
The Pistons run of six consecutive Eastern Conference Finals appearances is history. And that could have something to do with the trade that sent Chauncey Billups to the Denver Nuggets for Allen Iverson.
The projected starters reflect the extreme possibility that this Pistons team is in an extreme state of limbo. Unlikely to return are key veterans Iverson, Rasheed Wallace, and Antonio McDyess. They will have plenty of room under the cap to pursue a max-level free agent this summer and still have money to spare.
This offseason will be critical for GM Joe Dumars, who looks to restore the ‘Goin to work’ motto that this team has had since the turn of the century. Last year was a very difficult season for Detroit fans across the globe. They finished under .500 and really had little to no identity following the Billups trade.
Despite the awkward benching of Rip Hamilton, he still led the team in scoring with 18.3 points per game. Tayshaun Prince was the only player to start over 62 games and had another solid season, with 14.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists. Rodney Stuckey stepped into the spotlight as the reason for Billups’ departure and contributed 13.4 points and a team-leading 4.9 assists per contest. Amir Johnson was supposed to step up and be the next best thing in the Motor City, but looked lost at times, adding only 3.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 0.97 blocks in only 14.7 minutes per game over 62 games.
Greatest Areas Of Improvement:
Big Men Wanted
Assuming that the Pistons are losing Wallace and McDyess, they are treading thin ice in the big man department. Johnson proved he isn’t ready to be an NBA starter, Jason Maxiell has never proven he is a 25-30 minute guy, and Kwame Brown needs no introduction. They will dabble in free agency and inquire about Carlos Boozer, David Lee, and Paul Millsap, but they still need to use this pick to get some young talent on the block or they are in some serious trouble.
Guard Depth
Back when it was Chauncey and Rip, there was no need for a backup! Now, they are faced with the idea of trading Hamilton, and aren’t sure exactly where the Stuckman fits in. Will Bynum busted out of nowhere to be the team’s most exciting player down the stretch, and will surely be back to bolster the squad. However, if they consider dealing Rip, they should have a replacement in mind with this mid-first round pick.
Who’s Gone Number 15 Recently?
Over the past five years, the 15th pick hasn’t been the greatest of picks, but it also hasn’t been too bad. But it did yield two picks that could become eventual staples in the All Star Game. Both Al Jefferson and Detroit’s own Rodney Stuckey have proven that they have the skills to get the nod to represent the league’s best. Obviously the last time that Detroit had the 15th pick, they used it wisely.
2008
Robin Lopez, Phoenix Suns
2007
Rodney Stuckey, Detroit Pistons
2006
Cedric Simmons, New Orleans Hornets
2005
Antoine Wright, New Jersey Nets
2004
Al Jefferson, Boston Celtics
Who Should The Suns Target?
- Earl Clark of Louisville
Clark is the best option for the Pistons. He is a threat at both forward positions and has the size that this team has lacked since Bill Laimbeer was last scene in a men’s locker room (note – yes, I realize he is trying to get back). Another thing Clark will give them is the option to dangle Prince as trade bait…
- BJ Mullens of Ohio State
Mullens is a very promising big out of the hated Ohio State University, but let’s be honest Piston fans – you might grow to love his skill set. Mullens is extremely agile for his size and could impress the Pistons with his range and ability to finish in transition. Working with Stuckman on the pick and roll, they could develop into one of the league’s best for years to come.
- Austin Daye of Gonzaga
The last tall lanky talented skinny small forward equipped with a good college career at a big program that fell into the later stages of the first round was named Prince, and turned out to be a steal for the Pistons. Could they make a similar gamble on a similar talent in Daye?
- Terrence Williams of Louisville
Williams is another polished player that learned the game under a legendary college coach. This selection of Williams smells of a Dumars move, being that the talented Williams played all four years, has a fundamental approach to his success and could step in right away and destroy all of Afflalo’s minutes.
Picks Over the Past Five Years
Unfortunately for me, this section of the Draft Preview no longer allows me to discuss the Pistons picks from 2003 (Darko over Melo/Bosh/Wade/Kaman/Hinrich/Ford). But since 2004, the Pistons have really only made one selection that is making a decent impact on the current roster – Stuckey – while the jury is still out on Amir and Maxiell. Last year’s pick of D.J. White allowed Detroit to instead receive two non-guaranteed contracts in Walter Sharpe and Trent Plaisted, neither of whom will ever be found on an NBA All Star ballot.
2008
D.J. White, 29th (traded to Oklahoma City)
Deron Washington, 59th
2007
Rodney Stuckey, 15th
Arron Afflalo, 27th
Sammy Mejia, 57th
2006
Will Blalock, 60th
2005
Jason Maxiell, 26th
Amir Johnson, 56th
Alex Acker, 60th
2004
Ricky Paulding, 55th
According to Andrew Perna’s Detroit Pistons Draft Summit, an interactive forum featuring the responses of true RealGM hoops fans hoping to add their two cents to the Pistons Draft discussion, the fans of Detroit have made it known that they would like to draft a frontcourt player.
The Verdicts
1. What could the team have done differently to make the playoffs?
vege: If we kept Chauncey Billups and hired a real head coach instead of a lame rookie (or even keep Flip Saunders).
RustInPeace: This team has talent, no question, but if they actually tried during the regular season they might have been in better position to get past the first round. We had a chance to land the sixth seed, but just blew it.
SweetV: If we kept the core intact with Billups and looked to add a complimenting big man alongside Rasheed Wallace.
Buttastix: Nothing. We were outgunned, outcoached and outmatched.
Piston Prince: If we didn’t trade for Allen Iverson.
Southern Prince: We quit before we got there. Maybe we should have benched ‘Sheed just to get a better look at the rest of the roster.
RTM: All we could have done was play better down the stretch and get a higher seed, avoiding the Cavaliers.
Pistons#1: If we didn’t trade Billups for He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.
Low-Ki: We should have traded Billups in the offseason.
2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths?
vege: Our backcourt.
RustInPeace: One of the few strengths we had was our backcourt. Obviously Iverson didn't work out, but we did get some good production from Hamilton, Ronald Stuckey, and Will Bynum.
SweetV: Our scoring was improved slightly and we did show some flashes of great play.
Buttastix: The backcourt.
Piston Prince: Experience? The question implies that they did something well this year.
Southern Prince: Joe Dumars always gets us good guards.
RTM: Our biggest strength was likely the scoring ability of Stuckey, Rip and Bynum.
Pistons#1: Our greatest strength remains our wing positions at the moment, at least until point guard Stuckey shows more than he has.
Low-Ki: No strength's this season. "Going to work" was proven to be nothing but a marketing slogan.
3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?
vege: Bynum.
RustInPeace: Antonio McDyess. He basically carried us on the boards. A lot of us (including me) were okay with him not returning here in the Iverson trade, but he exceeded expectations.
SweetV: Bynum. He played his way into the rotation and looks to be a valuable piece for the future.
Buttastix: Bynum, Dice and Stuckey.
Piston Prince: McDyess.
Southern Prince: McDyess and Bynum.
RTM: McDyess played out of his mind for stretches of the season (having his first 20/20 game), but the guy who surprised me most was Bynum.
Pistons#1: Kwame Brown was more serviceable than I think a lot of people thought he'd be. Dice is the real answer here, though, as he was a year older and missed an entire month, but still kicked butt.
Low-Ki: Bynum, and now he has the Pistons thinking they have their back-up point guard. Belch. McDyess wasn't a surprise, but he should have signed elsewhere.
4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?
vege: Michael Curry.
RustInPeace: Everyone else, save for McDyess and Kwame were very ineffective.
SweetV: Iverson. I think it's safe to say that no one expected his stay in Detroit to be as bad as it was.
Buttastix: Iverson, Amir Johnson, Jason Maxiell, Tayshaun Prince and Sheed.
Piston Prince: Rip.
Southern Prince: Johnson, Maxiell, ‘Sheed and Prince.
RTM: A.I. was a failure, but I'm not about to get into that. I had high hopes that Amir would finally break out given time, and that Maxiell would build upon his strong 07-08 campaign.
Pistons#1: Pick one. Iverson, Sheed, and Rip all underperformed. Stuckey didn't show the consistency we'd have liked to see either.
Low-Ki: Everyone.
5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?
vege: Very confident. Joe Dumars has the upperhand this offseason, so he should be able to start building a championship team again.
RustInPeace: Very. Joe Dumars is no slouch judging by his trade history. We have lots of options, and this is the first time I've been genuinely excited in an offseason in years. The free agent market is going to be weak, but so is our competition. Plus, teams are looking to dump salary and with our cap space, we could land a quality player from a cost-cutting team.
SweetV: In Joe D. We Trust.
Buttastix: Very ... I think Joe is going to go get some players that we are not talking about.
Piston Prince: They'll do what they can, a lot is dependant on other teams making financially-driven moves. I'm confident the team will be better.
Southern Prince: Very. Joe is good. We’ve got more to play with this summer than anyone, and more teams are looking to deal.
RTM: I'm cautiously optimistic that Joe will get this team moving in the right direction. We'll see.
Pistons#1: I'm 50/50 on this. Joe D has his options, but that means there are lots of ways to screw up as much as it means lots of ways to make things better.
Low-Ki: I’m not as confident as most here. Joe isn't the Messiah and he isn't King Midas. I hear Boozer mentioned too much for my liking as well.
6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?
vege: A big man.
RustInPeace: We need a small forward or center, but I think we should trade this pick for an upgrade at center.
SweetV: Center, followed closely by shooting guard and small forward.
Buttastix: Best Player Available, but ideally some help at 3-5.
Piston Prince: An impact big man.
Southern Prince: A big man preferably 6’10” or above.
RTM: As has been the case for the past few years, our biggest needs are at the three and five. Although the draft isn't particularly strong, I would like to see us take the best player available.
Pistons#1: Center is our biggest need, but I wouldn't turn down a small forward to back up Prince if a good one fell.
Low-Ki: Bigs.
7. Who would you like the Pistons to take with the 15th pick?
vege: B.J. Mullens.
RustInPeace: I don't watch much college basketball, but I've heard good things about Earl Clark, but he might be a stretch.
SweetV: The best player available (i.e. Tyreke Evans).
Buttastix: Clark, DeJuan Blair, Evans or Jrue Holiday.
Piston Prince: Clark. In a perfect world the pick gets dealt for a veteran from a team that wants to cut salary.
Southern Prince: I want us to try to buy a lottery pick and draft Evans, then with the 15th take Mullins. I know he could be a bust, but at fifteen in this draft how big of a bust could he be?
RTM: I would like to see us use the 15th pick on an athletic forward like Clark or James Johnson.
Pistons#1: I'm in favor of us trading out of this draft if its at all possible and worthwhile. If not, just go for a decent forward, as I doubt a center worth having is available.
Low-Ki: Blake Griffin.
Click here to read other draft previews in our 30 Teams, 30 Days series
Who do you want the Pistons to draft at number 15? Feel free to contact Jason M. Williams with your thoughts. He can be reached at Jason.Williams@RealGM.com for comments and questions. |
