Will Michigan State's Valentine be Pistons pick in NBA draft?

Pistons have 18th overall pick

DETROIT – Who will the Detroit Pistons pick with the 18th overall pick in Thursday's NBA draft?

The Pistons, who are coming off their first playoff appearance in six years, have several questions to answer moving into the 2016-17 season.

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Will the team retain center Andre Drummond, who is in the last year of his rookie contract? Can Stanley Johnson become the star he was drafted to be?

The team will ultimately be looking to add depth to a roster that finished 27th in bench scoring.

One of the likely targets for the Pistons is Michigan State's Denzel Valentine, a senior guard/forward who averaged 19.2 points per game, along with 7 rebounds and 7 assists per game in his senior year with the Spartans.

Valentine was also voted the 2015-16 AP national player of the year.

Valentine is an ideal candidate for Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy's system. Valentine can stretch the floor, and shoot from the three point line, where he shot 44 percent in 2015.

Valentine was originally projected to be a top-13 pick in the draft, but medical concerns arose after an MRI of Valetine's knee led some teams to worry about his long-term durability. 

Most experts have Valentine falling to the bottom half of the draft, which could bode well for the Pistons.

If the Valentine is not available for the Pistons at 18, or if the team decides to pass on him, here are some other options the Pistons may look at:

Demetrius Jackson - Notre Dame - Point Guard

The Pistons are lacking depth at point guard. The team traded away one of their backups, Spencer Dinwiddie, last week, and will look at add a backup behind Reggie Jackson either through the draft, or free agency. 

Domantas Sabonis - Gonzaga - Power Forward

Some of Sabonis off the board early in the draft, but it remains to be seen if teams will take the risk on a 6'10" rebounding big. Andre Drummond could use the help.

Thon Maker - Canada - Power Forward

The Pistons worked out Maker earlier this week, but is considered a bubble pick for the first round. The 7-footer is a "work in progress" type of player, but has a huge ceiling. 

Deyonta Davis - Michigan State - Power Forward

The Spartans forward has the full support of Tom Izzo, who raves about the 6'10" forward. Davis' strength is rebounding and blocking. Some have Davis off the board even before his Spartans teammate Denzel Valentine.

Last season the Pistons finished the regular season 24th in field goal shooting, and 20th in three-point shooting. The team was dead last in free throw shooting, but 2nd in rebounding. 

As a side note, ESPN's Marc Stein reports the Pistons will make a run at Al Horford.

 


About the Author:

Ken Haddad has proudly been with WDIV/ClickOnDetroit since 2013. He also authors the Morning Report Newsletter and various other newsletters, and helps lead the WDIV Insider team. He's a big sports fan and is constantly sipping Lions Kool-Aid.