The Pistons are hoping that #6 pick Reed Sheppard can become one of the CSL's most elite shooters and, perhaps, players.
Three seasons ago, the Pistons traded Nassir Little to Toronto and Darius Garland to Phoenix in return for each organization's 2033 1st round pick. The moves, part of a comprehensive roster overhaul, set the stage for a special draft night down the road when the Pistons could potentially have as many as 3 top draft picks.
However, when the 2033 draft finally arrived, the Pistons FO found themselves picking below expectations at 6th, 10th, and 14th. A strong Pistons season (38-44) and a decent Raptors campaign (37-45) caused 2 picks to slide to the back half of the draft, and an unfortunate lottery night saw the #2 odd Phoenix pick drop to #6. What could've been as many as three top 5 picks had managed to turn into none.
Nonetheless, the Pistons FO was optimistic that some talented players could fall to them. Among these, the front office was most excited about Ryan Mutombo, Ron Harper, and Reed Sheppard. Mutombo was taken #2 and Harper #3, respectively, leaving Sheppard at the top of the Pistons draft board when it came their time to pick.
The Pistons jumped at the opportunity to draft the prolific Kentucky Shooting Guard. The hope is that Sheppard will not only shoot threes at an unbelievable rate but also create shots for his teammates and crashes the offensive glass. As good as his shooting appears to be, Sheppard seems unlikely to have the mentality of a #1 scorer -- his natural role seems to be more of an elite 2nd or even 3rd option, ala NBA-Klay Thompson. While Sheppard is positionally quite limited to SG, he has a plug-and-play skillset that allows him to fit into almost any type of lineup.
With the 10th pick, the Pistons drafted Center Kavion Pippen. The University of Southern Illinois big man, known for his other-worldly FG% numbers and thundering putbacks, was clearly drafted to bring an interior presence to Detroit. The hope is that he will serve as a good offensive alternative to James Wiseman to exploit weaker interior defenses.
With the 14th pick, the Pistons complemented their Guard and Center selections with a Forward in current NBA-Piston Ausar Thompson. The 20-year old youngster isn't quite CSL-ready yet, but the hope is that he will develop into a versatile defender much like his NBA equivalent.
#14 pick Ausar Thompson was selected for his defensive versatility and all-around potential.
With Sheppard, Pippen, and Thompson, the Pistons have a new generation of talent that seems to in-and-of itself comprise an entire new nucleus of a roster. In fact, if the Pistons had no other quality players on their roster, I think fans would be pleased rebuilding around this group alone.
However, that is obviously not the case as the Pistons are returning most of their group from a much-improved 2032 season. This includes starters James Wiseman, Vit Krejci, and Jordan McLaughlin, as well as role players Corey Kispert, Jaden McDaniels, and Noah Clowney. Restricted Free Agents Xavier Tillman and Moses Moody are also expected to resign -- and ensuring that they do so is the top priority in Detroit.
Lastly, the other notable addition this offseason is veteran and helio-centric offensive gunslinger Ky Bowman, acquired from Washington in exchange for Kevin Porter and Duane Notice, and the rights to the 23rd pick in the draft. Porter and Notice both had excellent stints in Detroit, including playing key roles in their second half turn around last season. Nonetheless, Bowman brings a different level of possibility, which if unlocked in the right system could really help Detroit finally reach the playoffs again.
Projected 2033-34 Depth Chart:
PG: Ky Bowman | Jordan McLaughlin
SG: Vit Krejci | Moses Moody | Reed Sheppard
SF: Jaden McDaniels | Corey Kispert | Ausar Thompson
PF: Xavier Tillman | Noah Clowney
C: James Wiseman | Kavion Pippen
All things said, this draft was an exciting and important fork-in-the-road moment for the Detroit Pistons. Will Sheppard, Pippen, and Thompson bring the Pistons back to glory? Or did the FO squander their best shot at building a team poised for long-term success?
