NBA Draft 2020: Top 3 options for Detroit Pistons with the No. 7 pick

The Pistons are once again picking in the lottery after an injury-riddled season. Without a franchise cornerstone on the roster, what players should they target with the No. 7 pick in this year’s draft?

The Detroit Pistons are in a state of transition.

The 2019-20 season was marked by a noted attempt at shedding pieces from the organization’s last playoff run — a swift first-round exit against the Milwaukee Bucks in 2019, which was only the team’s second postseason appearance since 2009 — with a pair of starters jettisoned near the trade deadline.

Former starting guard Reggie Jackson was waived and ended up competing in a playoff run with the Clippers in Los Angeles. All-Star center Andre Drummond was traded to Cleveland for pennies (Brandon Knight, John Henson, and a 2023 second-round pick) in a surprising move that can only be described as a depressing salary dump.

Luke Kennard, Detroit’s lottery selection from the 2017 draft, was nearly dealt to the Phoenix Suns for a protected first-round pick before those negotiations hit an unsolved impasse and could be put on the trade block once again this offseason. And six-time All-Star Blake Griffin likely would’ve seen himself floated in trade rumors if not for a second surgery on an ailing left knee, which forced him out of the 2019 postseason and held him to only 18 games this year.

At first blush, an injury-riddled and movement-heavy season that saw the Pistons finish with the fifth-worst record (20-46) in the league doesn’t inspire much confidence in the organization bucking a decade-long trend of subpar play. And yet, there were some bright spots, glimmers of hope from a number of young players who may prove to be pieces worth building with long-term.

Kennard enjoyed a career year before getting sidelined with nagging knee issues, with his newfound pull-up and pick-and-roll creation role on offense producing career-high averages in points, (15.8), assists (4.1), and three-pointers (2.8). Second-year guard Bruce Brown elevated his game as a playmaker (4.0 assists per game) and maintained his characteristic bulldog mentality on the defensive end, where he was often tasked with defending the opposing team’s best player.

Christian Wood, a frontcourt journeyman who’s already played for five different teams in four seasons, earned himself a hefty payday with his play following Drummond’s ousting, averaging 21.6 points and 9.1 rebounds on .559/.406/.759 shooting over the last two months of the season. Former Kansas marksman Svi Mykhailiuk emerged as a reliable role player in his first full year with the team, scoring 9.0 points per game and drilling 40.4% of his perimeter attempts.

And though Sekou Doumbouya, last year’s first-round pick, didn’t play particularly well as one of the youngest players in the league, his physicality, athleticism, and tools still make him an intriguing prospect.

These are all fine pieces to build with, should first-year general manager Troy Weaver opt to hold on to Kennard and re-sign Wood to a competitive deal in the $10-plus million range, but none of these players project to be pieces you build around.

There is a foundation getting built in Detroit, but it lacks an overall vision without a franchise cornerstone in place. Griffin could very well return to All-NBA form after his extended time away from basketball, but he doesn’t seem long for the franchise given his age (31), injury history, and contract (two years remaining).

With a top-10 pick in his possession, Weaver will have a chance at giving his team a much-needed jolt of youthful talent, whether he’s perusing the deep pool of guard prospects or selecting one of the athletic frontcourt players available in the lottery. The Pistons’ backcourt needs are well-documented, but it’s worth noting that Weaver was a member of an Oklahoma City front office (2008-20) that was quite fond of athletic traits and physical tools (notably in recent years), meaning this pick could go in a number of directions, irrespective of the roster’s perceived needs.

With all of that said, here are the top three options for the Detroit Pistons with the No. 7 pick.