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Potential Detroit Pistons Prospect Declares for 2024 NBA Draft

A Kentucky star is an option for the Detroit Pistons in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Justin Grasso|
Mar 20, 2024; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Rob Dillingham (0) shoots the ball during
Mar 20, 2024; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Rob Dillingham (0) shoots the ball during | Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

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Detroit PistonsPhiladelphia 76ers

As the regular season comes to a close this week, the Detroit Pistons will soon begin preparing for the 2024 NBA Draft. With a little over two months until draft night, one potential lottery pick officially declared to enter the upcoming class.

While appearing on NBA Today, Rob Dillingham announced that he’d be leaving college basketball to enter the pro ranks. He is a 6-foot-2 guard that spent the past year playing at Kentucky. In 32 games, he averaged 15.2 PPG, 2.9 RPG, and 3.9 APG while shooting 44.4% from beyond the arc.

This is notable news for the Pistons, as Dillingham is expected to be a top-five pick in this year’s draft. With one of the worst records in the league this year, Detroit is expected to be picking in this range for the second straight year.

Some mock drafts have Dillingham going as high as second, and others have had him going to the Pistons. While Detroit already has their lead guard in Cade Cunningham, this prospect can still fill an area of need for them.

The biggest thing Dillingham would bring to the Pistons is outside shooting. Floor spacing was an area of weakness for them this season, and it’s something they’ve already begun addressing. That said, drafting Dillingham would give Detroit a pair of sharpshooting guards to bring off the bench.

As of now, the Pistons have no clear backup point guard behind Cunningham. Selecting Dillingham in the draft would instantly rectify that. The Kentucky guard is much more equipped at being a lead guard compared to rookie Marcus Sasser.

Playmaking is still an area of growth for Dillingham, but he could be the Pistons’ sixth man from day one. With his ability to shoot and create off the dribble, he could even play alongside Cunningham in the backcourt.

Depending on where Detroit ends up picking in the lottery, Dillingham should be a name near the top of their draft boards.

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Justin Grasso
JUSTIN GRASSO

Justin Grasso was a credentialed writer and publisher covering the Philadelphia 76ers for Sports Illustrated’s 76ers On SI Network. Grasso got his start in sports media in 2016 with FantasyPros, working the news desk, providing game-by-game player analysis and updates on the Portland Trail Blazers and the Golden State Warriors. By 2017, he joined FanSided’s Philadelphia Eagles site as a staff writer. After spending one season covering the Eagles as a staff writer, Grasso was promoted to become the site’s Co-Editor. For the next two NFL seasons, he covered the Eagles closely before broadening his NFL coverage. For a brief stint, Grasso covered the NFL on a national basis after joining Heavy.com as an NFL news desk writer. In 2019, Grasso joined the 76ers' beat on a part-time basis, stepping into a role with South Jersey’s 97.3 ESPN. Ahead of the 2019-2020 NBA season, he concluded a three-year stint covering the Eagles and joined the Sixers beat full-time. Grasso has covered the 76ers exclusively since then for Sports Illustrated. He is a member of the Pro Basketball Writers Association. Twitter: @JGrasso_ Instagram: @JGrassoMedia

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