Rate our Draft Night Overall

[pistonpat]

While I appreciated the aggressiveness of Weaver and looks like we are finally going to do a rebuild which should of happened five years ago. At same time, Weaver got out done by a number of GMs last night and gave away cap space for questionable value.

1. Hayes. This pick was fine given the guy they really wanted went at #4 in Williams. I am concerned when you have a PG who is not over athletic and has not proven he can shoot. All the other things he can do get negated, if he can't shoot in the NBA. He needs to increase his 3 point shooting or we have another Frank Nkitlina #2...

2. #16. By taking on the Ariza contract, Detroit should of turned that 1st Rd pick into the second rounders by year 2 or 3, not seven years down the road. Then we draft a center who also has shown he proven he can shoot outside the paint or the ability to switch. You don't draft centers now a days, unless they are true difference makers. I appreciate he plays hard and is competitive, but that only gets you so far at the NBA level. I think the Rockets may have a top 12 pick in four years ( in a better draft) and we will have a back up center who plays hard and is getting 10 minutes a night.

3. Luke Trade. I get why Detroit might want to trade their best young asset due to his contract coming up and they don't expect to be competitive next year, but we only get #19 AND we TAKE ON $5M in Rodney McGruder. Why are you taking on Rodney McGruder and his $5M when you have a young asset that can shoot and create his own shot.? Clippers made a great move.

4. Trade for #38. Why are we taking on another $4M and a back up center so we can draft the next Jordan Bone??? This was just another head scratcher. This player was projected to not be drafted by most, yet we go and give away precious cap space and future considerations tell me we gave him some future pick(s) as well.

I rate this a D and while I appreciated Troy's aggressiveness to shake up this stale roster, I think he was so eager to get some things done, he let others take full advantage of him. He didn't learn much from Sam Presti it appears. Hoping some of these players surprise and make up for some of these moves..

[oldncreaky]

I went with B because of the "process". I don't watch enough college ball to have strong opinions of individual players anymore, you can never tell how teenagers will develop anyway, and this year was really hard because of covid, but you can evaluate the approach.

Weaver's approach made sense, and he acquired picks without giving up too much. However, having acquired a couple of mid-first picks, he then used them on players that probably top out as role players. We suck too much to worry about role players. I'd have preferred that Weaver swing for the fences, taking players with high ceilings even if they are more likely to bust. In particular I think Achiuwa and/or RJ Hampton may have been higher risk/reward picks instead of taking Stewart.

But after 40+ years following these drafts, I can never tell, so what TF do I know. At least Weaver has a workable approach. It's the first time I've felt good about the FO drafting since John Hammond left a dozen years ago and left Dumars to stack the team with a half-dozen combo guards (Arrrrgh!)

(Do you remember Rip and Iverson and Stuckey and Afflalo and Acker ... and then the next year Ben Gordon replaced AI, with Kwame Brown and Charlie Villanueva added to our starting lineup. Ugh. Ugly!)

[zeebneeb]

A for the main reason that Hayes, who I believe was the best player in the draft, was picked. Weaver shows that he doesn't want to mess around with whatever was "left over" from the previous regime and it feels great to have a really forceful, and a clear direction for the team again.

No one can argue that Weaver has put a stamp in the team, and its happening his way. No more beating around the bush, it's done, and I expect that before to long both Rose, and Blake will be in their way out as well. Let's be honest for a minute here;

Regardless of whether or not you disliked the Kennard trade, this was a full reset and for the first time in years there is no "do you think we can get the 8th seed" horsecrap. Weaver is doing it his way, period. Feels good to do it this way after a decade of misery and holding the record for longest streak without winning a playoff game. Nothing was working, and now its blown up.

Feels great. For the record, I was only expecting the #7 pick and a prayer to land Hayes. Bey is an exciting get to be honest, and really surprised he fell that far. Stewart we'll see, and rhe 2nd round pick is a crapshoot. What an exciting, and great night for Pistons fans. Real moves, and a real direction.

[SamFlow]

I voted B.

I had a feeling there were going to be some moves.

Got less than I thought for Luke. But I didn't want him resigned. No defense. Injury prone. So we get what some say was the best SF in college ball last year. Bey has a forward release. I don't like it. but seems like a smart and strong player.

I like Isaiah stewart, just not quite at the 16 pick. I wonder if we thought nesmith would fall and he didn't. that was who I thought we were targeting at that point.

I know nothing about Lee. Doesn't look like a pg. And small for an off guard. But most second rounders don't stick anyways. I would have chose Isaiah Joe myself at that point.

But overall a B. Had to make some moves to rebuild, or whatever he called it.
I also like that we won't be able to trade future draft capital for a bit.

He said he wanted to attack the draft. And now he want's to attack free agency.
I'd love to grab Bogdan the g/f from the kings that was supposed to be traded to the bucks.
Would LOVE to grab him. Would love to get some draft capital back trading Trevor Ariza.

Read on Twitter

There is still a chance we might get nesmith. Either blake or woods going to boston in some form or fashion.

It sounds like we still have 15mil in cap space. Either means signing Woods for ourselves or signing and trading at a higher amount in a sign and trade. Boston would make sense if we can work the cap numbers right. Probably a three way with haywood going somewhere else.

[SamFlow]

I went with B because of the "process". I don't watch enough college ball to have strong opinions of individual players anymore, you can never tell how teenagers will develop anyway, and this year was really hard because of covid, but you can evaluate the approach.

Weaver's approach made sense, and he acquired picks without giving up too much. However, having acquired a couple of mid-first picks, he then used them on players that probably top out as role players. We suck too much to worry about role players. I'd have preferred that Weaver swing for the fences, taking players with high ceilings even if they are more likely to bust. In particular I think Achiuwa and/or RJ Hampton may have been higher risk/reward picks instead of taking Stewart.

But after 40+ years following these drafts, I can never tell, so what TF do I know. At least Weaver has a workable approach. It's the first time I've felt good about the FO drafting since John Hammond left a dozen years ago and left Dumars to stack the team with a half-dozen combo guards (Arrrrgh!)

(Do you remember Rip and Iverson and Stuckey and Afflalo and Acker ... and then the next year Ben Gordon replaced AI, with Kwame Brown and Charlie Villanueva added to our starting lineup. Ugh. Ugly!)

precious Measured: 6'7.50” barefoot, 6'8.75” in shoes, 9'0.50” standing reach, 234.0 lbs, 7'0.75” singspan at the 2020 NBA Combine
https://www.foxsports.com/college-basketball/precious-achiuwa-player-stats

stewart Measured: 6'7.25” barefoot 6'8.50” in shoes, 9'0.50” standing reach, 243.0 lbs, 7'4.75” wingspan at the 2020 NBA Combine
https://www.foxsports.com/college-basketball/isaiah-stewart-2-player-stats
...

Precious is raw. Stewart is like a pogo stick. reminds me of rodman in that manner and that manner only. so much energy. really soft touch.

https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Precious-Achiuwa/Comparison/107977/Isaiah-Stewart-II/117418

[Liqourish]

We took a lotto protected (for the next four years and eventually turns into a 2nd rounder) pick for #16 and Trevor Ariza. We also gave them a 2021 2nd for $4.6 million. Ariza has a $1.8 Million dead cap hit for 20-21. So we essentially gave up a future pick that eventually turns into a 2nd rounder (while we are rebuilding and will be in the lottery) for PF/C Isaiah Stewart now, and a 2021 2nd for $2.8 million capspace after Ariza is moved on from.

Don't forget, we got another 2021 2nd in the deal for Bruce Brown.

Pistons then traded Luke Kennard for #19 Saddiq Bey and SG Rodney McGruder. I don't think anyone will argue that wasn't at least a good deal for the Pistons. Everyone knew Kennard was probably getting traded and we got a guy that is a highly regarded prospect in Bey, that doesn't have tendinitis in both knees, for him.

Pistons than traded "future considerations" for #38 Saben Lee PG and C Tony Bradley.

For a team that is rebuilding, these are the exact moves you want to make. Acquire players that can either develop or become trade chips.

Pistons came into the draft with the #7 pick, SG Luke Kennard, 2021 LAL 2nd, protected Future pick and turned that into PG Killian Hayes, SF Saddiq Bey, PF/C Isaiah Stewart, PG Saben Lee, C Tony Bradley, SG Rodney Gruder, and $2.8 million in capspace after Ariza is removed. That is a very good night IMO.