The Detroit Pistons traded up into the first round, going from 21 to 16, to draft Eubuka Okorie as a dynamic driver, scorer, and playmaker at the guard position. In the hours since the first round ended, it became clear that several of the picks at the top of the second round are for sale if any teams are interested in surrending some future assets for them. Detroit might simply stand pat. They currently do not have a pick in the second round. However, with some roster holes remaining, potential
player trades on the horizon, and depth available in a strong draft, it is worth exploring who it might make sense to target if Detroit were to get back into the top third of the second round. Here are five names that might intrigue the Pistons.
Meleek Thomas, guard, Arkansas
If the Pistons want to play the volume game, Detroit could look to target Meleek Thomas. The 6-foot-4 guard from Arkansas is a versatile scorer with a quick first step, much like first-round pick Okorie. The extra size helps, and he is a more reliable 3-point threat. He also is not limited to simply catch-and-shoot opportunities. He has some versatility to his shot creation and his shot making. Thomas was talented enough to be invited to the green room for round one, but he didn’t hear his name called. Detroit loves a player with a chip on their shoulder and players who feel overlooked. Thomas shared the spotlight with Darius Acuff Jr., but whereas Acuff was a top-seven pick, Thomas is still waiting.
Henri Veesaar, big man, North Carolina
Maybe I raed too many unconfirmed reports, but I’m at the stage where smoke equals fire and I’m sort of expecting the team to move on from Isaiah Stewart in whatever trade they make to improve the perimeter shooting and ball handling on the team. It makes sense. Jalen Duren is about to be locked in for a ton of money, and Paul Reed is good enough to be a reliable backup five. But Detroit could use some length and offensive potential near the rim. Enter Veesaar. The 7-footer has a decent shot to be a legitimate floor-spacing big man, and has the extra length that both Reed and Stewart lack. He also has good enough touch and footwork to provide a bit of rim pressure when defenses aren’t paying attention and is much more than a gimmick player. He’s also someone who won’t let the ball stick. He can scan the floor and move the ball well from the block and from the high post. He is limited defensively and doesn’t have stellar footwork. Don’t expect him to switch onto the perimter, and don’t expect him to shut down the paint.
Isaiah Evans, wing, Duke
The Pistons need wings with a little size, and Isaiah Evans is a legit 6-foot-6 with a 7-foot wingspan to put on the perimeter. He’s a confident shooter with a quick release and provides a level of floor spacing that is still very much a question mark for Okorie. Not only can he reliably make shots, he’s taking tough looks both off movement and with plenty of defensive attention sent his way. He also will be easier to find spot minutes for in a search for offense because he is taller and longer than players like Marcus Sasser and Chaz Lanier. Expect the Duke product to go in the first few picks of the second round.
Richie Saunders, wing, BYU
More three-point shooting, please, and you can’t get a much better, efficient form than Saunders. High release, quick off his hand, and he can carry those reliable traits over to corner looks, above the break, off movement, on hand-offs, etc. He is a professional shooter, and if he sticks in the league, it will be because he is an efficient high-volume threat from deep. But also, what you see is what you get. He doesn’t have mind-blowing athletic traits, and he is somehow already 25 years old. That would make him older than Cade Cunningham and all the other members oft the young core. He’d be at Unc status before he got to his second contract.
Trevon Brazile, big man, Arkansas
A supreme athlete standing 6-foot-10 with the power to throw down inside and to hit a deep three. Sounds perfect, right? True enough, but also, there is a reason the Arkansas big man is still on the board before the start of round 2. Loads of talent, but I’m not sure he’s got that dog in him. And we know that Detroit is All Dawg. Maybe being around this roster would help get the most out of Brazile’s talents, which are numerous. He’s sort of John Collins adjacent. But he’s got some of the same red flags that has seemed to hold Collins back. He’s not someone who owns the boards, and he’s not someone who is always locked into the proceedings. If he gets stronger, he’s a legit five, until then he is a bit of a tweener with some issues at the four. He lets the game come to him, and in this instance, I don’t mean that as a compliment. Too passive and doesn’t always exert his will. Again, let’s see what a few months with Ron Holland, Ausar Thompson and Cade Cunningham can bring out of him.
Those are a few of the names at the top of my mind. Who would you want the Pistons to target in the second round?
