This is the second of a three-part look at each of Detroit's three 2008 draft selections.
Just as Walter Sharpe will get the chance to develop for Detroit, their second selection will should be right along side him. While Sharpe maybe a better defender, Trent Plaisted looks a little more polished on the offensive end and like Sharpe, brings good size and athleticism.
No. 46: Trent Plaisted, 6-9, 240-pound forward/center, Brigham Young University.
At 6-11, 240 pounds, Plaisted shows excellent footwork and a versatility to the low post with both a nice shooting touch and passing ability. Being a left hander poses a new set of problems for opponents because there are so few in the league. He may grow to be offensively similar to Zach Randolph.
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Where he may weak is facing up to the basket. He appears to be more effective catching the ball with his back to the basket. He will need to increase his intensity and trust his skills and not be satisfied with just "being out there".
Can he defend the five position? Is he strictly a power forward? He does show the quickness to be effective at either position and a willingness to work. His workouts appeared to lessen as they moved to the NBA Draft Camp, but he showed enough in prior appearances to have the eye of many teams, especially Joe Dumars and the Pistons.
While Sharpe is scheduled to start for Detroit's Summer League team in Las Vegas July 11-18, Plaisted is going to get a long look from new head coach Michael Curry, who is making the trip to coach and get a first hand look at the new arrivals along with holdovers Rodney Stuckey, Arron Afflalo, Cheikh Samb, and Amir Johnson.
If all works according to plan, a front line rotation of Jason Maxiell, Amir Johnson, Walter Sharpe, and Plaisted is in the cards for the Pistons as they attempt to stack their hand with an athletic and versatile set of bigs.
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about 1 month ago
It looks promising with the Draft picks that Joe Dumars has stockpiled for the Detroit Pistons.
But, it is up to the players that he drafted to make that potential a reality.
about 1 month ago
I saw the UNC game last year when he was pretty much the best player on the floor. Then I looked at his over-all numbers and couldn't understand why he didn't have better averages. The kid has some skills and was more than a match for Hansbrough and company on that day.
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