It may seem quite early to talk about the NBA draft with it taking place a half a year away from now, especially as Pistons fans, with the great 9-1 run the team has going the last 10 games. However, NCAA Men's Basketball is starting to heat up, with Conference Rivalry games in full swing. So, with the excitement brewing and a lot of buzz about some of college's best basketball players, let's take a look at who the Pistons could be looking to take, depending on where they fall in the draft. As of right now, the Pistons are slotted somewhere around the 5-15 range, but some prospects could be rated slightly higher or lower given all the workouts and, of course, where the Pistons do eventually end up on Draft Night. This is just a preliminary list, so try to keep an open mind.
1. Stanley Johnson - SF - University of Arizona
If you are a Wolverines fan, you got to see Stanley Johnson as part of the dominant force that is Arizona this season in their win over Michigan a few weeks back. Stanley Johnson is a dominating force on the boards. He is a good, but not great, defender and is one of the best small forwards to come out in recent years, along with Otto Porter III. He also provides great size (6-7, 245), and while he is raw, he has a lot of potential and has shown flashes as a Freshman. Since he is a 3, expect him to come in immediately and replace Kyle Singler as a starter, unless Meeks (or KCP) transitions to starting full time at the three by the end of the season. It would be interesting to see how he handles the big opponents in March Madness, in particular Kentucky, Duke, and Louisville, as he would probably match up well against other top small forwards in the NCAA.
Averages: 48% Field Goal Rate, 43% from three. 14 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.5 SPG
2. Justice Winslow - SF - Duke University
Much like Stanley Johnson, Justice Winslow is a NBA caliber 3 who is expected to enter the draft this coming year. While he may not be as dominating of a presence physically as Johnson, he can still score consistently, and he does seem to be ready to play at the physical level the NBA requires from 3's on a normal day. How he performs in conference play will largely determine his stock, as he plays tough opponents, including Louisville, Kentucky, and Virginia, who's been a slight surprise at the top so far this year.
Averages: 43% Field Goal Rate, 35% from three. 12 PPG, 5 RPG, 2 APG
3. D'Angelo Russell - PG/SG - Onio State University
Another player Michigan fans have already been disappointed in seeing on the other side of the floor this season is a point guard, D'Angelo Russell. Russell is the first Ohio State prospect since Sullinger that projects to be worthy of a high draft pick in round one. From the Pistons perspective, he could be a 1 if Jennings gets traded this offseason and at the very least, he has the flexibility to play the 1 or the 2 and could back up Jennings, Meeks, and KCP at a high level, immediately improving the bench. However, he could work on his defense a little bit more to make it more pro-ready and put on a couple pounds (he's 6'5" 185 lbs). He should be ready to start by next year. While he won't become the Pistons' next Chauncey Billups overnight, he has a lot of potential and could be a stud in a very short time.
Averages: 45% Field Goal Rate, 44% from 3. 18 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 5 APG, 2 SPG
4. Montrezl Harrell - PF - Louisville University (Jr.)
For those of you who haven't looked a Louisville game this year, then you definitely should. Montrezl Harrell is a true leader on the court, and he plays Rick Pitino's style well. He brings a lot of energy and passion to the game, as evidenced by his Kentucky highlights. Yes, he did get suspended for a game, but it was not a major issue. He's an exciting player to look and has great shot blocking abilities, and his low post defense has been pretty solid versus good competition. He had a strong game versus Kentucky and Karl-Anthony Towns, and he has more up his sleeve, especially come tourney time. While he may not be the best shooter, he is not Josh Smith (a.k.a doesn't take bad 3's), and he draws a lot of contact, getting a lot of his points off second chances.
Averages: 58% Field Goal Rate, 9-29 from three (all 3 years), 15 PPG, 9 RPG, 1 BPG
5. Caris Levert -SG - University of Michigan (Jr.)
- While this would take a little help from both Caris (raising his stock) and or the Pistons (winning more games), this is a possibility. If neither of those possible events happen, then it would be a stretch. He is a good shooter from behind the arc and would be a great player to bring off the bench to back up Meeks or KCP (or overtake them possibly) to give them some rest. While he's pretty limited to the 2 spot, he might be able to play the 3 at some point, but it would not be the first idea for him here. Not only would he help out the team, but it would somewhat (though not completely) make up for the Trey Burke mistake, if that's what you'd like to call it, and would come in with a large local fan base that supports him already. He would need to work on defense, and he could probably drive the lane more often, but those are things that he could improve at the pro level. Ultimately, what would determine if he goes here or not is where his stock is relative to the Pistons' selection.
Averages: 42% Field Goal Rate, 40% from three. 15 PPG, 5 RPG, 2 SPG (all stats Jr. season)
Other names who did not make the top five list include, but are not limited to: Sam Dekker (SF- Wisconsin), Karl Anthony-Towns (PF- Kentucky), Kevon Looney (SF- UCLA), Justin Anderson (SF/SG Virginia), and Trey Lyles (PF- Kentucky).