Your 2022 NBA Draft Prospect

[mattao313]

I don't get the Mathurin love, seems like a KCP, Ben McLemore, Malik Beasley type player. Very safe 3&D pick

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[Jsindto]

I think he's talking about Patrick Williams. And maybe Harrison Barnes?

Possibly, but I'd hope not. Patrick Williams is a maybe good player, but certainly by no means someone I'd hope the player at #5 to be. Too early to tell for him.

If he means Harrison Barnes, that'd be a huge disappointment to me at 5. That's the definition of "4th best player on a championship team."

I'm pretty sure he means as prospects Patrick Williams and Scottie Barnes are guys Weaver were rumored to be interested in in there draft's.

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Gotcha. That makes more sense. I see zero scenario where Murray can be as good as Barnes purely because he's not the athletic freak. But if referring to rumored Weaver guy being good (or for Williams maybe good), I can see just believing in Weaver's eye.

[Jsindto]

I think he's talking about Patrick Williams. And maybe Harrison Barnes?

Possibly, but I'd hope not. Patrick Williams is a maybe good player, but certainly by no means someone I'd hope the player at #5 to be. Too early to tell for him.

If he means Harrison Barnes, that'd be a huge disappointment to me at 5. That's the definition of "4th best player on a championship team."

I think you may have unrealistic expectations about the level of talent available at #5 in this draft. Sure, maybe we hit the lottery with a Giannis type, but someone in the range of a Barnes or Grant Williams is a much more realistic outcome at #5. As is someone much worse.

I'm just a firm believer that if you're picking #5, and you're not a destination location in Detroit, you don't pick safe. If a player ends up only being that level of player, it is what it is and you still can use a 4th best player caliber guy. But I certainly don't pick this high with the expectation of that. Just a different philosophy. But there are absolutely a few guys in our range who have the upside of being a 2nd/3rd best player on a contending team. Likelihood of it happening, who knows? But I take my swing. Maybe if I'm Miami I go safe, but you're Detroit. You can't attract FA at the same rate to fill in the gaps.

[thesack12]

I don't get the Mathurin love, seems like a KCP, Ben McLemore, Malik Beasley type player. Very safe 3&D pick

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Yeah, I'm not interested in "safe" picks in the top 5.

You make a safe pick when you are in situations like the 2005 Detroit Pistons fresh off back to back Finals appearances armed with a pick in the high 20's and are needing some depth and minor tweaks to improve.

This team needs a DAWG.

[vic]

Mathurin may well have the best combination of talent, upside, and fit with Cade. BPA is variable by team. The Pistons aren't at a simple, "whatever talent is available" stage of the rebuild anymore. Fit with Cade is a consideration for anyone who'll be in the starting lineup with him.

I'm on Daniels. Have been for maybe 5 days. IF that improved 3 ball is legit sign me up

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A three-game stretch at the end of the season elevated his three-point percentage in the G-League from 26% to 30%. For reasons unbeknownst to me, that short hot stretch at season's end is being sold by some draft analysts as a sign of significant improvement rather than being acknowledged for the blip that it was. He did not improve over the course of the season. He started out bad, then got even worse through the midseason, and finally improved for a short stretch at the conclusion of the season. This isn't Haliburton, who shot extremely well in the NCAA. Daniels is still an unknown as a shooter.

Beyond that, he profiles as a two-way glue guy who would slide from a primary to a secondary playmaking role alongside Cade, who does not project to be the sort of secondary creator the Pistons need, and who, in being played next to Cade and Bey, would lock the team's starting five into poor athleticism on a lineup-wide scale.

I'm not a fan. He could be a good player in the NBA, but he doesn't fit what the Pistons need right now.

I'm with you Crymson... between Cade & Killian, we got enough IQ on the team. I like Daniel's but the team needs some speed & explosive athleticism for a change of pace to variate the attack. Just look at how much the teams offensive options were enhanced with Marvin Bagley coming off the bench. Imagine having a guard that can do the same thing, who you can also trust to either shoot off of Cades/Kills passes or isolate & attack at the end of a possession.

Sharpe/Ivey/Mathurin

[Jsindto]

Mathurin may well have the best combination of talent, upside, and fit with Cade. BPA is variable by team. The Pistons aren't at a simple, "whatever talent is available" stage of the rebuild anymore. Fit with Cade is a consideration for anyone who'll be in the starting lineup with him.

I'm on Daniels. Have been for maybe 5 days. IF that improved 3 ball is legit sign me up

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A three-game stretch at the end of the season elevated his three-point percentage in the G-League from 26% to 30%. For reasons unbeknownst to me, that short hot stretch at season's end is being sold by some draft analysts as a sign of significant improvement rather than being acknowledged for the blip that it was. He did not improve over the course of the season. He started out bad, then got even worse through the midseason, and finally improved for a short stretch at the conclusion of the season. This isn't Haliburton, who shot extremely well in the NCAA. Daniels is still an unknown as a shooter.

Beyond that, he profiles as a two-way glue guy who would slide from a primary to a secondary playmaking role alongside Cade, who does not project to be the sort of secondary creator the Pistons need, and who, in being played next to Cade and Bey, would lock the team's starting five into poor athleticism on a lineup-wide scale.

I'm not a fan. He could be a good player in the NBA, but he doesn't fit what the Pistons need right now.

I'm with you Crymson... between Cade & Killian, we got enough IQ on the team. I like Daniel's but the team needs some speed & explosive athleticism for a change of pace to variate the attack. Just look at how much the teams offensive options were enhanced with Marvin Bagley coming off the bench. Imagine having a guard that can do the same thing, who you can also trust to either shoot off of Cades/Kills passes or isolate & attack at the end of a possession.

Sharpe/Ivey/Mathurin

If I believed Hayes will turn into a player capable of starting next to Cade, I'd agree with you. I'd be going for Sharpe or Mathurin (just depending on how risk averse you are). But if we assume for argument sake that Killian isn't able to produce from 3, I think you still need that second guy in the starting lineup who is high IQ, and can both be the primary to let Cade be off ball, and more importantly someone who can also play off all when Cade obviously is the primary. It's the off ball part keeping Killian from starting opposite Cade.

@Crymson, For Daniels' shooting, it's a 30 game season. So having his % in 3 games alter his season % doesn't really matter to me. That's like saying if you take away a different 3 game stretch I'm sure he could have been 35%. It really was his last 10 games (still fairly small sample size, but larger than 3 games) that people are pointing to when he was 45%. That, and the reported improvements in workouts. Which hey, maybe is a bunch of BS. But if teams believe in it, he'll be picked higher than people expect. I also don't think he's unathletic. I think he's like a Cade. Probably slightly above average. But not a supreme athlete.

[Piston Pete]

Sharpe is the best possible fit for us.

Secondary scorer and facilitator to play off Cade. He projects to be everything we WANT out of Killian offensively.

Drafting him would allow us to focus on big men in free agency.

S&T deal for Ayton centering around Bagley+ and then look to also bring in Jalen Smith as a backup 4/5 who could also start when needed.

[BJK1]

Not sure if this was posted or not, but a good article about Murray:

https://www.theringer.com/platform/amp/2022/5/19/23126315/keegan-murray-nba-draft

Personally, I’d be happy to see any of Murray, Mathurin, or Ivey become Pistons. I might lean more Murray, as I think his work ethic, character, talent, and versatility would allow him to fit in very well with the young core.

[edmunder_prc]

Not sure if this was posted or not, but a good article about Murray:

https://www.theringer.com/platform/amp/2022/5/19/23126315/keegan-murray-nba-draft

Personally, I’d be happy to see any of Murray, Mathurin, or Ivey become Pistons. I might lean more Murray, as I think his work ethic, character, talent, and versatility would allow him to fit in very well with the young core.

My problem with Murray is that he is another Bey tweener guy.

6'8" with a 6'10-11' wingspan at 220 doesnt cut it in the NBA as a PF. Half the guards in the NBA have that wingspan and can out jump him.

Bey happens to be a really thick built type and that works but it makes him slow to guard SF and hes still not big enough to guard Giannis, KD, Mobley, the big, long PF that make up the stars at PF in the league.

Is the right thing to do with one tweener who cant guard SFs or PFs very well, to get another one? Then round it out with Stewart as the Center?

I know the Pistons are a long way from contenders but at some point there has to be a strategy of how the pieces will fit together and a SF, PF, C that are all under sized or too slow to guard their position seems like a non-ideal way to build a team from the ground up.

[tmorgan]

Murray’s just too low ceiling for me. Average size, average athlete, average skills. He seems quite aware and smart and likely to make the most of his talent, but drafting a guy that tops out as “surprisingly effective” with the 5th pick is dumb. Very Tobias Harris-ish.

Now Ivey has a much higher ceiling with his extreme athletic ability, but he is missing almost all of the things you’d need to be effective next to Cade — questionable shot, questionable court vision, questionable defense. I still prefer him over Murray because there’s a chance he matures into a much better player, but still don’t like the fit.

Sharpe is unknown. If I were part of the front office, I’d demand a bunch of workouts and scrimmages before picking him. I know he’s a legit shot creator, long-armed, and very athletic (not Ivey level tho). He was my guy for a long time, but the caveats remain.

I believe in Dyson Daniels. He’s smart like Murray, more skilled than Ivey, and more tested than Sharpe. Great size for a secondary playmaker and very good defensively. There are indeed questions about his jumper, and it needs to be sped up significantly, but everything else looks between good and fantastic for a guy that young.

I don’t know how high he’ll rise. I was once pretty sure we could get him at 7 for Grant+ if Portland is willing. Now not so sure. I assume the 3 bigs and Ivey go before him, but he may now be ahead of Sharpe, Murray, and the rest. I won’t be at all surprised or mad if we just take him.

[BJK1]

Not sure if this was posted or not, but a good article about Murray:

https://www.theringer.com/platform/amp/2022/5/19/23126315/keegan-murray-nba-draft

Personally, I’d be happy to see any of Murray, Mathurin, or Ivey become Pistons. I might lean more Murray, as I think his work ethic, character, talent, and versatility would allow him to fit in very well with the young core.

My problem with Murray is that he is another Bey tweener guy.

6'8" with a 6'10-11' wingspan at 220 doesnt cut it in the NBA as a PF. Half the guards in the NBA have that wingspan and can out jump him.

Bey happens to be a really thick built type and that works but it makes him slow to guard SF and hes still not big enough to guard Giannis, KD, Mobley, the big, long PF that make up the stars at PF in the league.

Is the right thing to do with one tweener who cant guard SFs or PFs very well, to get another one? Then round it out with Stewart as the Center?

I know the Pistons are a long way from contenders but at some point there has to be a strategy of how the pieces will fit together and a SF, PF, C that are all under sized or too slow to guard their position seems like a non-ideal way to build a team from the ground up.

I get what you’re saying. I’m just not sure which guy(s) in this draft will be capable of effectively guarding Giannis, KD, or anyone else of that ilk. Maybe Sochan or Eason could eventually get there? I guess I just see it as them taking the best player available at 5. If they deem Murray to be that guy, then take him and figure out fit from there. Good coaches figure out ways to play their better players. And like I said, I’d personally be good with Mathurin (who’d provide necessary shooting and athleticism) or Ivey (who’d provide athleticism and rim pressure) as well. Another guy I could see them strongly considering is Johnny Davis.

[The Moose]

I don't get the Mathurin love, seems like a KCP, Ben McLemore, Malik Beasley type player. Very safe 3&D pick

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Mclemore was a better draft prospect than Mathurin currently is. He had a better freshman season than Mathurins sophomore season by most measures.

Better shooter from all 3 levels, more defensive impact, more efficient, more dunks. All cornerstones of a 3+D prospect, Mclemore was better.

Mathurin just doesnt standout to me. I wouldn't be considering him at 5 for any reason outside of pure fit. I don't think his realistic upside or realistic median outcome match the others we could draft at that spot. I think the most realistic outcome for him is that he's a spot up shooter with average to bad defense.

Bigger but lesser Ben Mclemore is probably the comp as draft prospects. And look, maybe there is a mentality difference between the two of them that will help Mathurin reach where Mclemore couldn't, but he isn't who I would be looking at with 5

[gusman]

Odds came out. We are favored to take sharpe.

[Manocad]

Odds came out. We are favored to take sharpe.

Which only means that's where the money is being bet. You saw how that worked out for Mobley and ROY.

[Kalamazoo317]

My worry with Sharpe is that if he reaches anywhere near his ceiling, it won't be on his rookie contract or on this team. That seems to be the history of young, developmental players and franchises like ours.

[NYPiston]

Read on Twitter

His explosive athleticism is awesome

This video shows nothing to be honest. He's attacking the rim against nobody.
It's like the QBs in NFL Pro Day throwing a deep ball to a receiver that is uncovered. Like, great, he can throw a ball far in practice.
Not trying to downplay Ivey or anything but I just get a laugh at these draft "experts" that salivate over these practice videos, Givony in this case.

[NYPiston]

Mathurin doesn’t seem to be listed as high as 5 in most mock drafts, but he seems to be a nice fit next to Cade. Good size, athleticism and shooting. Seems like he’s got a good attitude and a willing defender. I’d be happy with him. Not sure why he’s not as highly regarded. Maybe a limited ceiling?

I think because scouts probably see him as more of a 3 and D type with relatively limited upside compared to guys like Ivey and the mystery box in Sharpe who handle the ball more and Murray who has more of a well rounded offensive game.

Personally, I saw some playmaking chops in Mathurin appearing later in the season that leads me to believe that he might have more upside than he's being given credit for. It's all a crapshoot from 4-7 really depending on preference and I'll stick to what I've been saying all along that I don't see a big gap between the top 3 and the 2nd tier. There's a gap but not as big as the gap last year was perceived to be.

[Jsindto]

Listened to the Bun & Cardigan podcast this morning with James Edwards III. He believes, at least at this early point in time, that the Pistons may have a top 3 guys (not including Chet/Paolo/Jabari) of Sharpe/Mathurin/Murray (not in any particular order). They may be a little lower on Ivey it seems. He wasn't reporting it as 100% gospel, but just his gut feeling from conversations I believe is how he couched it. Either way, thought it was interesting. I think he said for Sharpe it obviously will be very contingent on his workout, which he thinks is pretty soon ("early June").

For me, I've lately been on the Dyson Daniels train IF they think Hayes won't turn that corner (if they feel confident he will, Daniels doesn't make sense). But I've always hoped that Sharpe is the pick. And I say that because I don't think Weaver, who seems at least so far to be on the conservative side in the draft, is someone who would take Sharpe unless he really sees something in him. I, on the internet, can be a little worried about Sharpe. But if a front office who likely had eyes in Kentucky practices, able to watch every single dribble taken in high school, and has a one on one workout with him thinks Sharpe is the guy, then that's my #1 choice. I just can't personally be there since as a nobody on the internet I don't have any of that knowledge.

[Kalamazoo317]

I think Mathurin gives you all the skill set Ivey has except maybe as a ball handler and gives you a better mentality, more reliable shooting, and more usefulness off-ball.

[Moses ShamMoses]

Please don't get too excited about players stroking 3's during shooting drills...It's much different than a game environment where you can't catch a rhythm shooting shot after shot after shot in a row. I remember watching a similar video of Willie Cauley Stein a few years back with him just stroking shots left and right.