Ranking the Detroit Pistons' Biggest Needs in the 2015 NBA Draft
After winning 32 games and missing the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season, the Detroit Pistons have a roster with several holes. And with as many as eight players leaving via free agency, they can address some of that with their two picks in the 2015 NBA draft.
Their record means the Pistons will likely own a top-10 draft pick in the first round, with a 10 percent chance of moving into the top three. Ideally, the player they select there can immediately play a meaningful role. They will also have the second round's No. 8 pick to fill out the back end of the rotation.
Coach and team president Stan Van Gundy is likely losing one or two starters and at least one other member of the rotation to free agency. Some of those needs will have to be taken care of in free agency or through trades. But finding the right guys in the draft will go a long way toward turning the Pistons into a contender.
5. Instant-Offense Third Point Guard
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With Brandon Jennings, D.J. Augustin and Spencer Dinwiddie all on the roster before the 2014-15 season, Van Gundy was stocked at point guard and traded Will Bynum to the Boston Celtics for backup big man Joel Anthony.
The move bolstered Detroit's frontcourt depth, but it also left the team devoid of a bench guard capable of providing instant offense—a role Bynum played perfectly.
Detroit currently has Jennings, Dinwiddie and Reggie Jackson at the point, and Jennings could play the ultimate version of the "microwave guy." But Van Gundy may find a taker for the final year of Jennings' contract, and that would leave a vacancy for a bench scorer.
Having such a player is not a necessity, and the Pistons wouldn't need someone capable of playing big minutes. But guys like Will Bynum, Nate Robinson or J.J. Barea can be incredibly useful in short bursts when the rest of the offense has faltered or their team is down big. This year's version of a score-first guard like Russ Smith, whom the Memphis Grizzlies drafted in 2014, could be a big asset.
The Pistons should only look to fill this hole if there is a good fit when they are on the board in the second round. Guys like Boston College's Olivier Hanlan, Oregon's Joseph Young or Michigan State's Travis Trice could all fit the mold.
4. Backup Small Forward
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Another spot on the bench where the Pistons could use help is at small forward.
The two guys they currently have are Caron Butler and Tayshaun Prince. Each is 35, Prince is an unrestricted free agent and Butler's contract is non-guaranteed. Van Gundy desperately needs to infuse some youth into the position, and it is quite possible he is without a returning small forward entirely in 2015-16.
Small forward could be a real option in the second round regardless of whether Van Gundy brings back Prince and/or Butler. If they are around, a young guy could take a year to develop and prepare to move into the backup role in the near future. If Van Gundy lets those two walk, then the guy drafted would ideally be able to compete for minutes off the bench right away.
At No. 38, everyone available will have flaws. But the Pistons have needs for both another outside shooter and a wing-stopper, and perhaps they could address one of those there.
Timothe Luwawu from France is a possible long-term prospect with a good outside jumper, and UTEP's Vince Hunter (a Detroit native) and North Carolina's J.P. Tokoto could have futures as lockdown defenders.
3. Defensive Backup Center
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Joel Anthony gave the Pistons solid bench minutes at center during the 2014-15 season, but his impending free agency leaves them with a question mark for the role.
With Andre Drummond manning the middle for 30-35 minutes per night and Greg Monroe sliding to the 5 for extended stretches, having a talented backup wasn't imperative for Detroit the past two seasons. Monroe is also an unrestricted free agent, and if he leaves, then the role instantly becomes more important.
Drummond is best as a rebounder and rim protector, so bigs with a different skill set could provide roster flexibility. But the roster almost entirely lacks shot-blocking beyond Anthony and Drummond, and if the former leaves, then the Pistons must find another shot-blocker.
Talented big men are rarely available in the second round, so Van Gundy may not have many options to address this need at No. 38. But 6'11" centers Guillermo Hernangomez from Spain or Moussa Diagne from Senegal could be low-risk, high-reward international options. And Robert Upshaw has lottery talent, but his dismissal from Washington may scare teams off.
"Background checks and how he handles his interviews will be key," ESPN's Chad Ford wrote. "The upside is clearly there. But will teams take a risk on him in the first round?"
Ford had Upshaw taken No. 30, while DraftExpress also had him as a late first-round pick. But if he slips into the second round, like NBADraft.net projects, then the Pistons should pounce.
2. Stretch Power Forward
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Van Gundy has two directions he can go with the Pistons' first-round pick, and the first is to find Drummond's long-term partner at power forward.
Monroe has started next to Drummond for two seasons, but his free agency leaves that in question. And Monroe is more of a natural center, so their fit has always been questionable.
Regardless of whether the Pistons re-sign Monroe, Van Gundy showed when he was with the Orlando Magic that he likes using sweet-shooting power forwards, playing both Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis there. Anthony Tolliver already filled the role last year, but he is a career backup and will be a free agent in 2016.
Spending their first-round pick to fill this need likely signals Monroe's departure from Detroit, but a scenario where a rookie comes off the bench to form a strong three-man rotation with Drummond and Monroe is not inconceivable.
UCLA's Kevon Looney is an option, and he can also play some minutes at small forward. Myles Turner from Texas would also fit the role, and he has the size and shot-blocking ability to play center when Drummond heads to the bench. ESPN's Jeff Goodman projects both to be on the board if the Pistons were to draft at No. 8.
1. Starting Small Forwad
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Even with Monroe possibly leaving in free agency, there is no bigger hole on the Pistons roster than at small forward.
Butler and Prince are no longer suited to be starters, and even if they don't leave in free agency, their NBA careers are coming to a close. Without them, the Pistons have no other options on the roster. At least at power forward, Van Gundy could trot out Tolliver without Monroe.
The Pistons could go a couple of directions at small forward in the lottery. Reggie Jackson was their top scorer at 17.6 points per game, and they could use someone who can really fill it up. Croatian Mario Hezonja has the size, athleticism and shooting ability to one day be an elite scorer.
Van Gundy could also decide to target a ball-hawking defender to pair with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope on the wing. Kansas' Kelly Oubre and Arizona's Stanley Johnson would fit the role and should be available when the Pistons are on the board. There is an outside chance that Duke's Justise Winslow could fall as well.
When the Pistons are on the clock, Van Gundy will almost certainly be addressing one of the two forward positions. Depending on who remains when they are picking, it may just be a matter of selecting the best available player. But if it is a matter of need, he'll be taking a small forward who will be in the starting lineup right away.
Jakub Rudnik covers the Detroit Pistons as a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. Talk Pistons basketball with him on Twitter.
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