Previewing The Pistons 2022 NBA Draft
Today is a big day in Pistons history. The NBA draft only comes around once a year, and Detroit will own the No. 5 pick in the 2022 draft. After the success of last year's number one pick Cade Cunningham, the Pistons front office finds itself looking for a co-star to pair with the All-Rookie first team member. In a draft with no consensus number one pick, and betting lines that are all over the place, there seems to be some clarity for Detroit at No. 5.
It’s become quite obvious through the NBA’s backchannels and tweets from reporters like Adrian Wojnarowski that the first three picks of the draft will be some combination of Jabari Smith, Chet Holmgren and Paolo Banchero. From there, starting with the Kings at pick 4, the draft is wide open.
There seems to be a second tier of prospects likely going somewhere in the range of picks 4 to 7. The three players that most believe to make up this tier are Jaden Ivey from Purdue, Keegan Murray out of Iowa, and Bennedict Mathurin hailing from Arizona. Each one of them presents their own unique skill set that could be a decent fit for what general manager Troy Weaver is trying to build in the 313.
Jaden Ivey - 6-4, 195 pounds - G, Purdue
The player most favored to go fourth overall is the star guard from West Lafayette. Ivey’s game is created around his unbelievable natural gifts of athleticism, size, and strength. His speed with the ball in his hands has been discussed non-stop in the lead-up to this draft and has many GMs drooling over comparisons to Ja Morant and OKC Russell Westbrook. He has out-of-the-gym leaping ability and broad shoulders big enough to bully anybody in his way. His catch-and-shoot ability surprised some, shooting a solid 34.8% clip on C&S opportunities. He uses his speed to get around and by anybody in transition and pick and rolls, and showcased a little bit of a clutch gene with some big-time shots against Ohio State, Wisconsin, and Texas last year.
Ivey’s three-point shot was questionable and has some awkward mechanics on it with his slow, low-point release, but showed much improvement from the 25.8% he shot from three in his freshman year. His mid-range game, recklessness at times, and discipline on defense will also be points of improvement but his ceiling is sky-high for his athletic gifts which could force Weaver’s hand at 5.
Keegan Murray - 6-8, 225 pounds - F, Iowa
The second player most mocked to hear his name called by the Detroit Pistons at 5 is the 21-year-old Iowa forward, Keegan Murray. He’s not a flashy player when on the court, but has great fundamentals for a player who had to attend a post-high school graduate program to gain more looks from colleges. Murray was simply a bucket-getter at Iowa. He was one of the top scorers in the whole country despite playing in the big ten, one of the country's most difficult defensive conferences. The Cedar Rapids product averaged 23.5 PPG, 8.7 REB, and 1.9 BLK while shooting 39.8% from three. His scoring ability under the basket and from behind the arc is his biggest selling point that will help earn him a second contract in the NBA. Not to mention Murray has shown some defensive versatility that could allow him to seamlessly play the 3 or 4 at the pro level and guard the 2 through 4.
The concerns with Murray start with his age. At 21, he is older than most of the prospects looking to hear their name called. Most players of his age aren’t picked in the top ten for that reason, and much less the top five. His ceiling is also a worry for teams that don’t see the athletic ability to turn into anything more than a 3&D player in the league. Despite the concerns, Murray will be one of the first names on the board in Barclays Center and could be Troy Weaver’s pick for Jerami Grant’s replacement.
Bennedict Mathurin - 6-6, 205 pounds - G, Arizona
The third and final player believed to be under consideration for Detroit at pick 5, is the NCAA tournament second-round star, Bennedict Mathurin. The Mathurin hype train has slowly been growing since the Pistons saw the lottery results. It’s easy to see the value in the athletic guard who shot 38.3% from three in his two-year college career. He displays a smooth, silky jumper and some very underrated athleticism. His off-ball scoring is what’s mainly gained support for him to go fifth overall. He shot 38.1% off of screens which will translate easily to the NBA and showed a lot of lift on his jumper.
Similar to Keegan Murray one of the biggest issues analysts are having with taking Mathurin in the top five is that they believe his ceiling is capped slightly as being a really good 3&D player on the wing. He’s struggled to self-create in Tommy Lloyd’s offense and showed a loose handle with his lack of go-to moves. His defensive technique will have to improve as he often gets flat-footed, but the tools are there and the offensive ability is certainly there. Mathurin is a player that could arguably be the best fit alongside Cade Cunningham in this draft. Only time will tell if Troy Weaver and the Pistons front office agree.
