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Pistons 2023 NBA Draft guide: Final big board, No. 5 pick prediction, possible trades

James L. Edwards III

“And with the fifth pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, the Detroit Pistons select …”

As it pertains to the Pistons, Thursday’s NBA Draft is probably the least predictable since general manager Troy Weaver took over in 2020. Not only is that due to Detroit, the league’s worst team this past season, dropping to pick No. 5 in a three-man class, but the consensus is that there are close to six prospects who could realistically be selected when the Pistons are on the clock.

In 2020, even though Detroit held the No. 7 pick, it was evident that the club would target a point guard. In 2021, with the Pistons holding the No. 1 pick, it was between Cade Cunningham, Evan Mobley and Jalen Green. Last year, Jaden Ivey fell into Detroit’s lap at No. 5.

This time around, it’s very much a “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” class when you get past pick No. 3. The Pistons could walk away with Amen or Ausar Thompson, Jarace Walker, Cam Whitmore, Taylor Hendricks or Anthony Black and no one would be too surprised. The range of possibilities is what should make Thursday night, particularly for Detroit, very interesting.

Over the last few months, weeks and days rumors have surfaced and chatter has intensified about whom Detroit will select. This draft guide will be your one-stop shop on all things relevant to the Pistons.

Who has had in-person workouts for the Pistons?

• Amen Thompson, G, Overtime Elite
• Ausar Thompson, W, Overtime Elite
• Cam Whitmore, W, Villanova
• Jarace Walker, F, Houston
• Taylor Hendricks, W/F, Central Florida
• Anthony Black, G/W, Arkansas

These are not the only players the Pistons have had for drills during the pre-draft process, but league sources tell The Athletic that these six names have worked out for Detroit and are being the most considered with the No. 5 pick, assuming Scoot Henderson or Brandon Miller doesn’t surprisingly fall to the Pistons’ slot.

Per league sources, Hendricks was impressive in his workout and interview, the Thompson Twins were good, too, but Whitmore left Pistons brass wanting a little bit more. Draft workouts are just a piece of the pie, not the whole thing, so it’s unsure how much stock Weaver and Co. will put into these glorified tryouts, on either end of the spectrum.

Over the last few days, I’ve gotten the sense that both Amen and Ausar Thompson will both be seriously considered if on the board at No. 5, with the latter maybe even being the leader of the two depending on who you ask in Detroit’s front office. Part of me believes Whitmore is still very much in consideration. Also, Walker and Hendricks are in the running.

My top 5 Pistons big board

(Victor Wembanyama, Henderson and Miller are off the table)

1. Ausar Thompson: For clarification, this is how I’m predicting Detroit’s big board to look — assuming Wembanyama, Henderson and Miller are all gone by the fourth selection — based on conversations, fit and draft history. Per league sources, despite Amen Thompson being mocked higher in the majority of mock drafts that have come out leading up to Thursday, there are teams in the NBA who rate Ausar Thompson higher. I think the Pistons could be one of them. Ausar is electric in transition and defends at a high level. Like his brother, Ausar processes the game well and has a secondary or tertiary playmaking upside. Defensively, given his length, athleticism and competitive level, is where the biggest upside lies with Thompson. The jump shot has a ways to go and projecting Overtime Elite prospects, particularly ones on the older side like Amen and Ausar, isn’t easy. However, Thompson has a lot of qualities coveted by Weaver and the idea of what Thompson might look like if everything clicks could be too much to pass up for a franchise trying to “restore” through the draft.

“You weigh all of that,” Weaver said on Tuesday when asked about evaluating boom-or-bust potential versus a more stable prospect. “But, for me, I like the long ball. I’m not bunting or trying to slap it into short center. I’m going to take a big swing, especially if I only have one chance at it.”

The Thompsons and Whitmore most fit that bill.

2. Amen Thompson: Thompson is the point guard of the brothers, and while I don’t love his fit in Detroit, the upside might be too much to ignore. He, too, is a super athlete with great measurables and a tremendous feel for the game. Amen put a lot of pressure on the rim at Overtime Elite. His shot, though, is even more concerning than Ausar’s and the Overtime Elite program is still very tricky to scout. I also think Ausar is ahead defensively, at least in terms of consistency. However, Amen’s ballhandling, size, athleticism and processing as a lead guard are very, very enticing to many teams.

3. Cam Whitmore: Whitmore is an explosive athlete who has an upside as a shot creator. Defensively, with him being 6 foot 6 and having a sturdy frame, he proved to be solid on that end in college and even has room to grow. But it’s just tough to get past the comically-low assist numbers and lack of playmaking that he did for others at Villanova. He is only 18, so maybe he improves as a processor of the game, but I’m sure NBA teams have an idea by now if his downfalls in that regard were due to Whitmore’s situation in college or if it’s just how he operates on the court. Whitmore has a chance to be an elite bucket-getter at the NBA level, and that’s not easy to pass on.

4. Jarace Walker: To me, Walker is the safest pick Detroit could make at No. 5. I’ve got no doubts that he’ll be an NBA player for at least a decade. He does a lot of things well — most notably on defense as a switchable defender, rebounder and passer — that translates to winning. Now, I’m not as high on his upside as others appear to be, but I’d be surprised if he’s not a rotation player on a good team at some point in his career. Walker’s ceiling rises if the outside shooting becomes legit and he’s able to show and do more as an off-the-dribble creator.

5. Taylor Hendricks: Hendricks has been the hardest one to get a read on in recent weeks because I’ve gotten the sense that teams are intrigued by the 6-foot-9 forward with a 7-foot-1 wingspan who can shoot and defend both on the ball and as a weakside rim protector, but he hasn’t been talked about as going in the top 5. As mentioned before, Hendricks had a great workout in Detroit and, on paper, is probably the cleanest fit of all these guys. He’s a more natural power forward in the NBA, but if his ballhandling and processing take a step forward, I could see him being a full-time wing. My gut tells me that if there is a “surprise” pick in the top 5, it’ll be Hendricks.

What’s the likelihood of Pistons trading No. 5?

This particular draft, more so than any of the previous ones under Weaver, feels like the one Detroit could trade the pick. Weaver said he was open to the idea of trading the selection in April, and I still believe that is in the cards.

It does appear that Pistons like several guys who could realistically be available between pick Nos. 5-10. If that’s the case, and there isn’t a clear-cut favorite amongst Detroit’s decision-making team, moving back a few spots and collecting a future draft pick or two would be beneficial to the Pistons. Detroit is blocked from deals with its firsts by the Stepien Rule and the future pick owed to New York from the Isaiah Stewart draft day trade. Getting a first-round pick from another team would open up more flexibility for the Pistons.

I wouldn’t put money on Detroit trading the pick, but it feels more likely this year than any of the last three.

My three favorite draft-day trade ideas for Detroit

Indiana

The Pistons send No. 5 and No. 31 to Indiana for No. 7, No. 26 and a 2025 first-round pick. In this scenario, I have Detroit selecting Whitmore with the seventh pick.

Utah

The Pistons send No. 5 and Marvin Bagley III to the Jazz for No. 9 and a 2025 first-round pick. In this scenario, the Pistons select whoever is left of the Thompson twins, Whitmore, Walker Hendricks or Black.

Oklahoma City

The Pistons send No. 5 and Bagley to the Thunder for No. 12, a 2025 first-round pick and a 2026 first-round pick.

Names to watch for with the 31st pick

Detroit also holds the first pick in the second round. Here are some names to keep an eye on if the Pistons keep No. 31:

• Marcus Sasser, G, Houston
• Andre Jackson, W, Connecticut
• Julian Phillips, W, Tennessee
• Max Lewis, W, Pepperdine
• Dariq Whitehead, W, Duke

Who do Pistons select at No. 5 and 31?

With the fifth pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, the Detroit Pistons select … Ausar Thompson.

With the 31st pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, the Detroit Pistons select … Marcus Sasser.

Let’s go back to the fifth pick, the one everyone cares about. If Detroit stays at No. 5, my hunch is that the selection is one of the Thompson twins, Whitmore or Walker. That’s where it is trending in recent days.

Weaver doesn’t mind selecting a player higher than the consensus. If he likes a player, he likes a player. Moving back doesn’t help him control the outcome any better. The biggest mystery as we head into Thursday is if the Pistons see six guys clustered together with no separation really among them. If so, trading back feels more likely. However, if Detroit thinks there are tiers within those six, then it’s far more likely it stays put at No. 5 and Weaver takes whoever it is that he likes.

Buckle up.