NBA Draft 2012: Detroit Pistons Must Target These 5 Players

The Detroit Pistons' youth movement has finally landed at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

After years of hoping the remaining veterans from the 2004 championship team (Ben Wallace, Tayshaun Prince, Richard Hamilton) would duplicate their success, Joe Dumars has finally gotten in touch with reality and is making moves towards the future.

Detroit is on the right path, assembling a solid young group of building blocks.

The Pistons acquired their point guard of the future by drafting Brandon Knight in this past year's draft. Dumars re-signed Rodney Stuckey to a 3-year deal, and he is now flourishing as a natural scorer at the two-guard. Jonas Jerebko is a workhorse off the bench that any team would love to have. And the Pistons struck gold drafting an All-Star caliber center in Greg Monroe.

The Pistons are nowhere close to being a finished product able to contend for a championship. With a lack of continuity and chemistry due to the lockout, and with many holes still in the roster, this team has many steps to take.

It's imperative for Dumars to have a successful draft in June. With an ocean of talent available, and a potential lottery pick, there are no excuses for the Pistons' front office.

Here are 5 prospects the Pistons must target in this years' draft.

1. Harrison Barnes, Small Forward, University of North Carolina

The Pistons re-signed forward Tayshaun Prince to a 4-year contract this past offseason. Prince provides veteran leadership, and at times shows he can still play, but he's not the answer moving forward for Detroit.

Harrison Barnes is one of the most complete players in this year's draft, and it would be a blessing if he landed in the Pistons' lap.

Barnes is a terrific shooter, has a great NBA physique (standing at 6'8", 223 pounds), supreme athleticism and is capable of contributing right away at the professional level. He can create his own shot off the dribble, has a tremendous work ethic and has high character on and off the court.

At the beginning of the season, Barnes was projected as the No. 1 overall pick. After the dominance of Anthony Davis, and slight struggles in the Elite 8 and Sweet 16, his stock took a slight hit. 

However, Barnes is too good of a talent to pass up. He has star NBA potential, and is the exact kind of perimeter player the Pistons need in the front court.

He should be a no-brainer if he falls to the Pistons in the draft.  

2. Arnett Moutrie, Power Forward, Mississippi State

Arnett Moultrie was a double-double machine this past season with points and rebounds. Moultrie recorded 18 for Mississippi State, and 9 more games where he was no more than 3 points or 3 rebounds short of a double-double.

At 6'10" and 230 pounds, Moultrie is a gifted athlete and can definitely excel at the next level. He's a great rebounder and plays with a high motor. He has decent ball handling skills for a big man and a well polished low post game. Moultrie finishes hard at the rim, and also has a nice face-up offensive game.

Moultrie has a nice turn-around jump shot in his arsenal. But at times he gets carried away with it, and settles too often instead of attacking the rim.

The Pistons are extremely light in the front court, especially at power forward. Moultrie would be a quality addition, taking lots of pressure off of Greg Monroe. 

Frail forwards like Austin Daye and Tayshaun Prince haven't been much help this season, and head coach Lawrence Frank continues to play musical chairs at power forward looking for the right plug at that position.

Moultrie is capable of playing power forward or center, and is the exact kind of muscle the Pistons need on the front line. 

3. Thomas Robinson, Power Forward, Kansas

There is a boatload of front court talent in this year's draft, meaning anybody can fall lower than expected—including Kansas forward Thomas Robinson. 

2011-12 was a great coming-out season for Robinson, as he averaged just under 18 points and 12 rebounds a game in his junior season at Kansas. Robinson is a complete player with a nice inside and outside game. At 6'10", 240 pounds, Robinson is the kind of player you can build a team around.

Robinson could tighten up his defensive game on the block a bit. The Jayhawk forward got caught up in foul trouble far too often in the regular season. Robinson is a smart player with the physical tools needed to succeed in the NBA, and he'll work that issue out.

Robinson plays aggressively down low on offense, but he could polish his low post moves a bit, as well as add a consistent jumper to his repertoire to make himself more of a threat.

The Pistons are loaded with versatile forwards who do lots of dirty work, but they're lacking a forward that can bang and attack the paint next to Greg Monroe. Robinson can fill that void for Detroit right away.  

4. Terrence Jones, Forward, Kentucky

Terrence Jones is one of the most unique players coming out of the draft this year. He's an athletic lefty who plays with high energy and can stretch the floor out to the three-point line.

The Pistons already play with a group of versatile power forwards (Jason Maxiell, Ben Wallace, Jonas Jerebko). Jones would ensure stability, and would be a significant offensive upgrade for the Pistons.

Jones' versatility is what separates him from all other prospects. At Kentucky, Jones was used as a power forward, but he has the ability and the mold to play small forward.

Tayshaun Prince is a decent ball handler like Jones, but doesn't have the energy or athletic ability Jones possesses. Those talents make the Kentucky prospect an upgrade over Prince.

Jones wouldn't start right away, but in due time he could hold his own as an NBA starter.

Jones has plenty of areas to improve, but his high ceiling and potential make him an attractive prospect in this year's draft.

5. Andre Drummond, Center, Connecticut

The catalyst to the Pistons' championship run in 2004 was Ben Wallace.

Wallace was ferocious on defense, swatting every shot that came his way. Offensively, Wallace was unreliable with no low post moves, no jump shot and a horrible free-throw shot.

However, Wallace was a workhorse on the glass, a great on-ball and help defender, and at times came through with an offensive play when the team needed it most. 

Andre Drummond fits that exact profile as an NBA prospect. 

Drummond was a great shot-blocker for the Huskies, and has a great chance to have that same impact in the NBA. The Connecticut center averaged just under three blocks and was a strong and effective rebounder on the block. 

Drummond's offensive game showed signs of life during the regular season, but not consistently enough to be viewed as a serious threat. Also, shooting under 30 percent from the free-throw line won't pass as acceptable at any basketball level. Offense will be his main focus this offseason heading into the combine.

Playing next to Greg Monroe, however, would be a win-win for Drummond and Monroe. Monroe is shouldering a heavy load defending and scoring in the paint for the Pistons. Drummond would take a ton of pressure off Monroe on the defensive end.

If Drummond polishes his offensive attack, he could form part of a scary tandem up-front for the Pistons.