2012 NBA Draft: Why The Detroit Pistons Must Draft a Big Man

The Detroit Pistons are coming off of three straight disappointing seasons and are looking towards the draft to help them return to the playoffs.

The Pistons haven't been to the playoffs since 2009—a lifetime for their eager fans. There is no doubt that the Pistons need a big man to help out Greg Monroe at center.

It's not a matter of if they will draft a big man at No. 9, but who it will be.

In years past, the Pistons have struggled to meet their draft needs because they were afraid the player they desired wouldn't drop to their pick. This year is much different. 

They have loads of talent at the center and power forward positions to choose from. Who they choose will decide their future.

Need a Dominant Post Presence

If there's one thing the Pistons desperately need, it's a big man. They do have four guys on the roster right now who exceed 6'9", but only one is a center.

A team can't make a living in the NBA with only one center, that's like entering a horse race without a horse. 

Centers are a hot commodity in the NBA these days. With many big men available in the draft, the Pistons know what their No. 9 pick is for.

The Pistons have Greg Monroe, a decent post presence, but he can't do it all for the team.

Monroe led the team in points, rebounds and steals last season and was almost an all-star.

He needs a teammate to help him grab rebounds, which they ranked 27th in the league, and put up some points from the post.

Greg Monroe is good, but he can't play 48 minutes per game because they don't have a backup center. 

The Pistons need help in the post.

Ben Wallace Retiring

Ben Wallace has had two runs with the Pistons, the first more successful. 

The veteran center was once a shot-blocking and rebounding mastermind who found himself winning Defensive Player of the Year time after time.

Wallace is now 37 years old and staring retirement in the eyes. 

He was around when the Pistons won their NBA Championship in 2004 and were considered one of the best defensive teams of all time. He was a big reason that teams hated playing Detroit.

He left the team to join the Bulls after the 2006 season and that's when it seemed like his career was going downhill. He was never the same after that, only racking up one 10-plus rebound per game season in the past seven years. 

The Pistons picked him up again in 2009, mostly for his veteran presence and leadership.

His career has been winding down for a while now and with him probably retiring this year, the Pistons need to find a center to fill this void. 

He wasn't a dominant presence in Detroit the second time around so it shouldn't be too difficult to fill his spot, but he was the backup center.

Wallace has given a lot to this organization and the Pistons are looking for someone to give just as much at that position, if not more.

Future Depends on It

Pistons forward Jonas Jerebko guaranteed that the team would make the playoffs in 2012-13. 

This was a bold statement coming from a guy that averages eight points a game and has only been in the league for two seasons. 

However, the draft tonight could either make or break that promise.

Let's face it, the Pistons have been downright terrible for the past three seasons. They have shuffled through head coaches, dealt with angry players and lost a majority of their games. 

Lawrence Frank is now head coach of the team and seems to have them headed in the right direction.

Last season wasn't a solid season by any standard, but the team showed a lot of fight and the future looks bright. 

They started the year with a 6-20 record and it looked as if Frank would be out of Detroit as fast as any coach they've had. 

The Pistons ended up finishing the last 40 games with a 20-20 record and had the fans in Detroit taking notice.

True, .500 basketball is nothing to write home about, but for Detroit, hearing anything positive about their basketball team can cause pandemonium. 

The Detroit Pistons draft pick tonight is as crucial as any pick Joe Dumars has ever made. 

They are looking at three guys right now: John Henson, Meyers Leonard and Andre Drummond. 

All three of these guys have the ability to change a franchise's future.

All three are also big men. 

All three could be the Pistons' playoff ticket. 

The draft tonight will be very interesting and will likely decide the Pistons' immediate future.