Unlike last year’s draft, the Detroit Pistons are not in control of their fate. There were no obstacles to the election of Cade Cunningham first.
It’s easy when you win the lottery.
If you don’t have a top three choice, it’s harder to draft and it’s impossible to tell who will be available if the Pistons pick fifth overall in Thursday’s draw.
Any movement in front of the pistons in the draft order will affect their decision trees. They will spend the next two days completing their pre-draft preparation for the last time. On Thursday, they are ready for anything that happens.
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“There’s still a lot to do – meeting and setting up the board and going through the different parts of the process we formulate to find best-case scenarios,” Troy Weaver said at the Pistons Performance Center on Monday. . “Whoever is in the control of the board. It is not the case that we should make the first choice. In the time of five we are in the control of the board. We have to have several scenarios.”
Weaver said he has seven to nine players to choose from with Pistons. Probably on the list are Purdue guard Jaden Ivey, who confirmed he worked for the Pistons and Orlando Magic on Monday, or Keegan Murray, who met the Pistons in Detroit last week. There is also the possibility that Jerami Grant will be able to move on or before the draw night and get the Pistons an additional first round selection.
Here are the key excerpts from the Weaver press conference:
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Flasks prefer a long rise
The reconstruction of Pistons is far from over. Last year, Drafting Cunningham gave the franchise a potential superstar to build around, but they need at least one more high-level player next to him and also better list depth to get into the playoffs comfortably in the future.
Weaver confirmed that the Pistons want to make a draft on Thursday with the player with the longest rise.
“We will be the best player with the most potential in the long run, but you can count on them to contribute,” he said. “We want the best player for a long time.”
It can be assumed that the Pistons are Ivey, one of the most explosive guards in the draft and believed to have a superstar ceiling. It could also mean that the Kentucky wing of Shaedon Sharpe, who was recently trained by the Pistons and is the fifth choice, has a leg up.
However, Weaver also stated that he does not believe that age can limit the player’s ceiling. This is good news for Murray, who turns 22 at the start of the new season.
“For me, it’s the upside to growth,” Weaver said. “I don’t order, ‘The boy is 23 years old and he can’t grow up, he doesn’t have a bad side. Or there are some guys who are 19, 18 who limit themselves. I’ve seen a couple of young players and said, “It’s going to take a while because he just doesn’t understand.” It’s just the spiritual aspect of it and how the player approaches things and where he has been, how he approaches and what is left unused. ”
Weaver prepares for a potentially chaotic draft
There were several surprises in the 2021 draft draw. The Toronto Raptors ranked Scottie Barnes fourth, overall, instead of Jalen Suggs, who was ranked fourth. And the San Antonio Spurs took Joshua Primo, who was a late first-round pick at the best in the 12th pick.
There may also be surprises in the 2022 draft. Oklahoma City Thunder is reportedly interested in the second choice against Ivey and the Sacramento Kings are a wild card. Will they take Ivey or Murray or exchange the fourth option for immediate help?
Weaver said anything could happen and no corner ball would hit the Pistons.
“You have to be ready for that,” Weaver said. “I remember how many years ago D’Angelo Russell jumped up and went to two. That’s why I’m a little anxious about so many reports right now trying to find out that everyone chose, it’s ridiculous. No, you have to be prepared for anything to happen. Because if you don’t do it and you haven’t done your job, someone will fall, you haven’t done your job, so you’re stuck. So no, we assume everything is happening above us. ”
Cunningham’s presence should alleviate any suitability issues
The Pistons won the lottery on time. Cunningham was one of the most versatile players in recent draw history, and this verse was also evident last season. He proved to be their best versatile game manager and felt equally comfortable with the goals or handed them to his teammates. He defen
ds, shoots and takes the lead.
Since Cunningham is already there, the Pistons don’t worry about drafting a suitable player for him. Cunningham fits next to most players.
“We don’t have a player we don’t see that would suit Cade,” Weavers said. “Absolutely. Its versatility allows anyone we draft with to fit in with it. Creating it made it easier that you didn’t have to worry so much about your fitness.”
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