Who's your pick? (Poll included)

[Manocad]

Valenti had speculated that #5 was actually the worst position for the Pistons to be in because all three of Ivey, Sharpe or Murray could be available...AND YOU'D BETTER GET IT RIGHT. You kinda could say the same thing for #4 if the top 3 go as expected. At #6 or #7 whoever is left of Murray, Ivey or Sharpe would be the no-brainer pick by most accounts. But who knows; maybe someone in the top 4 does something crazy and makes Weaver's pick easy.

[Cowology]

I voted Ivey but I need to qualify that; I don't want him. I'd try and trade back or just draft him and figure it out later. In my head you have the 3 bigs, then Ivey/Sharpe as sorta that 2nd tier and then everybody else. I don't wanna bump myself into a lower tier just because I don't love the fit.

Maybe I'm a coward, but I don't think we can afford to miss on a player like Sharpe even if he if is the highest upside. If we had a 2nd pick in that 7-10 range then I'd maybe take that swing and then draft more conservatively with that 2nd pick.

The guy I actually want is Murray, so if that is the way Weaver goes I won't exactly be upset. I just think if Ivey is there you basically gotta tag him. It would sorta be like Chet being on the board at 3. Even if your a team that really doesn't want him... can you actually pass? It's hard.

[Betarayjigs]

I went with Ivey, Sharpe is just too unknown at this point for me and Ivey's raw speed is needed on this team for offense. His long wingspan sets him up as a player who can play defense at a shorter height. Its wishy washy but I can see changing a-lot based on what info releases on sharpe before draft time. Id trade Grant for 7 as well. I just think this team is still a year away from being a year away and want more young growing players.

[buzzkilloton]

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[Manocad]

As much as I like the allure of both Ivey and Sharpe next to Cade, I'd rather see Murray. I think he's plug and play, instant contributor. Now, obviously that means you need to move Grant and hopefully for a young guard or a pick that could be a decent young guard, even if it's a second rounder. Cade, BPA second round SG, Bey, Murray and Stew; I'm ok with that for a year. As I've said before I am NOT a big fan of taking a SG top 5 who needs improvement shooting the ball.

[smann7]

I have been trying to get on board with Ivey or Sharpe but I really liked what I seen from Mathurin. To me he’s the the perfect compliment to Cade.

[gusman]

What pick sells the most seats?

[Southern Piston]

I agree with that, I’m taking Ivey, if he’s gone I’m taking Sharpe. I kinda feel like Sacramento might take Keegan Murray, cause they want to win now.

[Manocad]

What pick sells the most seats?

They sold 80% of their home tickets last year. That's only going to go up no matter who they draft. At that point an analysis of "Well, Ivey would get that number to 90% while Sharpe would likely get it to 92%" is immaterial.

[buzzkilloton]

What pick sells the most seats?

Jaden Ivey is the biggest highlight reel in the draft

[zeebneeb]

Everyone picking Ivey knows that he works the best with the ball in his hands, right? I mean I could absolutely be wrong, but the fit of those two seems suspect at best.

Ivey voters, why do you believe the two could co-exist, or is it more of BPA? No judgment, just really keen on understanding y'all's pick.

[Invictus88]

So here's the thing I don't understand about Sharpe. The kid is going to be a project and fans of this club have the patience/attention span of a gnat. So I don't see how so many people are leaning in that direction.

Jalen green (who played all year in the g-league against ex college players / nba hopefuls) struggled mightily for a good portion of the year before finally putting it together. Sharpe is nowhere near as polished or experienced as Green ended up being pre-draft.

So how does this kid not get crucified by folks here? What am I missing?

P.S. I haven't made up my mind regarding who I want at #5. Sharpe is intriguing but I go into it knowing he's a few years out from being anything remotely close to decent. I can't possibly see how that fits folks timelines here that want us to win a lot more next season.

[bstein14]

In 2020, Haliburton was the guy at #7 who was the "safe" pick where you knew the guy at worst was going to be a really good backup, or a below average starter. He was considered by many to be a "lower upside" guy because of his age and lack of athleticism.

Hayes was much more of a player that hadn't shown what he was entirely capable of.... so Weaver has shown he was willing to go for someone he almost certainly thought had a higher upside back in 2020... it'll be interesting to see what route he goes in 2022 for sure.

It feels like in 2021 Cade was the "safer" pick to a degree but someone who wasn't the athlete of Green or the raw talent of a Mobley but someone who was just really solid overall and a guy that said all the right things. If Weaver follows suit this year Sharpe seems less likely.

[Manocad]

Everyone picking Ivey knows that he works the best with the ball in his hands, right? I mean I could absolutely be wrong, but the fit of those two seems suspect at best.

Ivey voters, why do you believe the two could co-exist, or is it more of BPA? No judgment, just really keen on understanding y'all's pick.

I'll answer because I don't have a preconceived notion that Cade, given his abilities, must have a dead eye SG next to him who does nothing but shoot jumpers, or a stretch 4, or a rim running center, or whatever. I do think it's possible for any two really good players to figure out what works best for them both. Or any 3 players, or any 4 players. I'm old school. I believe that any two players who can punish a defender--no matter how they do it--can coexist with another player who can do the same thing.

[FloridaMan78]

Everyone picking Ivey knows that he works the best with the ball in his hands, right? I mean I could absolutely be wrong, but the fit of those two seems suspect at best.

Ivey voters, why do you believe the two could co-exist, or is it more of BPA? No judgment, just really keen on understanding y'all's pick.

I think Ivey and Cade can help each other.

Ivey was the best deep ball shooter out of all the prospects this year. He shot 36% from 25ft. He hit 40 this year. NBA line is 23ft. He has a set shot, perfect for catch and shoot and off ball, and also showed he’s good off screens.

His drive is a vacuum. Totally sucks in the defense and creates easy passes that he absolutely proved he can make.
Perfect for Cade to get some easy catch and shoot threes.

His athleticism is another level. It’s not just vertical, it’s his quickness and speed with the ball in his hands. He is in control and doesn’t force things even though he’s going 100 mph. He does turn it over when things slow down, which is a great time for the ball to be in Cades hands.

I wouldn’t be disappointed if we landed Sharpe though either. I think he could immediately play. But I don’t think he gets to the next level until year three with a chance of never reaching it.

[dVs33]

I voted sharpe. His potential is crazy, but it all depends on his interviews and workouts, we have to trust weaver with those.
Either one of sharpe, Ivey and mathurin would be great because they’d slot right into what we have. Murray seems like a good prospect, but the fit isn’t ideal with the grant situation still up in the air.

[NYPiston]

It's Ivey or Sharpe for me, take the big swing for upside even though both have serious questions about their overall game. Mathurin I can be talked into also, I actually like him more than most and think he might be the best fit of this Group of 4.

Murray might be the most "sensible" pick in some ways but I want to be excited about the pick, excited about picking a potential star even if it carries more risk, so Murray would be my last choice of this group in that respect.

[NYPiston]

Sharpe is going to be raw. Worse than what Jalen Green came into the league this year for sure.

Everyone here going to be ok with Sharpe coming off the bench to start the season? Or seeing Cade struggle playing next to someone that's super raw and not able to help out much early on? Sharpe has played almost zero basketball the last few years because of Covid so its super hard to say what he looks like.... and he'll almost certainly skip pre-draft workouts to keep his draft position safe rather than risk dropping his status.

Yes because you don't draft based on who will be better next year, you draft who you project to be the best player long term. Most teams in the mid to top lottery have nothing but time to develop prospects and the Pistons are no different.

I sure hope that Weaver doesn't fall into the trap of taking the player that can contribute sooner, that's an awful draft strategy, unless he feels that the more NBA ready player also has the most upside.

[breezypeezy]

I went with Ivey, that speed and wingspan is going to be great for defending. His first step and hops are excellent. Those strengths alone make him super high floor but also elite level ceiling potential.
Hard to see any scenario where he is a bust with the athleticism and handles we already know he has.
I don't know whether Sharpe is going to surpass Ivey, just too little evidence for me and the Pistons cannot afford to get this pick wrong.

Eta: If by some surprise one of the big 3 is still there at 5 though, I would take Banchero, Chet or Jabari ahead of any in our poll.

[King Bugs]

I'm going Ivey. I won't repeat what other guys have said about Ivey, but I will add...

...an Ivey draft pick will signal the end of the Killian Hayes experience and I need that more than I need water because that guy is just not good.