30 Teams, 30 Days: Detroit Draft Preview

2007-2008 Finish: 59-23
2008 Draft Picks: 29th, 49th

Pre-Draft 2008-09 Projected Starters:
PG Chauncey Billups
SG Richard Hamilton
SF Tayshaun Prince
PF Rasheed Wallace
C Antonio McDyess
Key Reserves:
PG Rodney Stuckey
SG Arron Afflalo
PF Jason Maxiell
PF Amir Johnson

What the Pistons Do Well:

Reach the Conference Finals. In fact, they love it. But they hate winning it.

This current starting five has probably run its course. They have had the same four-man core for the past half-decade and have only one title to show for it. They need to shake things up, and everyone agrees that the Core Four are not getting any younger.

On the bright side, the Pistons have been The Elite Team of the East for the past six years. While they haven?t always been the ones representing the East in the Finals, they have consistently been 'The Team To Beat' each year.

The Core Four consists of Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton, Tayshuan Prince, and Rasheed Wallace. Since Ben Wallace?s unpatriotic exodus to Chicago, Antonio McDyess has filled in at the starting center slot, and the team hasn?t really lost a step. But now with the potential resurgence of the standard bottom-feeders of the East Orlando, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Toronto, and Boston, the Pistons need to keep pace by changing with the times.

Instead of mentioning the impressive stats of the starting five, I will highlight the best part of the Piston organization, and the reason I forsee them being able to stay atop the league?s weaker conference upwards into the next decade.

Rodney Stuckey was a straight steal in last year?s Draft. He went 15th to Detroit and is already worlds ahead of Mike Conley, who was the first point guard selected in the 4-spot. The StuckMan was a force down the stretch and showed he is fully capable of taking the reins once Chauncey is shipped out of town for Elton Brand ? this makes too much sense not to happen.

Coming off the bench with Stuck was The Human Caffeine Rush, Jason Maxiell. His game was elevated ? literally ? to new levels. The highlight of his career and probably life was when he annihilated Kevin Garnett?s shot on one of the most vicious postseason blocks in league history in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Joining him next year will be hopefully be Arron Afflalo and Amir Johnson. They both showed glimpses of perfection in the lineup and really need to get more time on the floor. The promotion of Michael Curry to head coach should infuse more youth into the lineup, and a big trade or two should clear time for these promising rookies.

Greatest Areas of Improvement:

Big Man Down Low
The Piston big men aren?t very big, defer their post-up game to the outside, and appear to love shooting mid-range jumpers and 3?s more than Will Smith loves July 4th movie releases. Sheed and McDyess are both getting older and getting more and more wary about using their post games down low. They could use some girth off the bench, and this draft could give them some punch down low.

Depth at the Combo Forward Slot
With the expected departure of Jarvis Hayes, the Pistons once again have a hole behind Tayshaun Prince at the three. They need another true small forward who can create his own shot and put the ball in the hole. Maybe add Corey Maggette to that Billups for Brand deal?

Who?s Gone Number 29 Recently?

Over the past five years, the 29th pick has not panned out as well as anticipated. Since Josh Howard was stolen in 2003, there have been some very marginal players that have spent more time in street clothes than they have on the floor ? and not because of injuries.

2007
Alando Tucker, Phoenix Suns

2006
Mardy Collins, New York Knicks

2005
Wayne Simien, Miami Heat

2004
David Harrison, Indiana Pacers

2003
Josh Howard, Dallas Mavericks

Whom Should the Pistons Target?

For more in-depth analysis and background regarding the players that the Pistons should target in this year?s Draft, click on each player name to be redirected to Christopher Reina?s Prospect Report piece.

- Bill Walker of Kansas State

Joe Dumars likes to take risks on big time talent, so he might be unfazed by Walker?s lack of a stable and healthy ACL situation. Walker has the goods to be a lottery pick, but the legs of Rocco Baldelli. Dumars might do the savvy ?Dumars Thing? and swap this pick with Minnesota at 31 and grab Walker as a second rounder with a non-guaranteed contract.

- D.J. White of Indiana:

D.J. White is a solid college player who played tough defensive basketball in the rough Big Ten. You know Joe D is going to take a serious look at this kid. White may not have the upside of a lottery pick, but he is a hard worker with a considerable amount of skill and boat loads of moxie. He would fit the Piston culture well.

- Devon Hardin of California

While the Piston fans would probably prefer this last spotlight to be on Jason Thompson, Chris Douglas-Roberts, or even JaVale McGee, the fact remains that those three will probably not be available. Going with the Pistons penchant for toughness, I was also considering Nathan Jawai, Richard Hendrix, and Serge Ibaka. But when it came down to it, I think a guy Dumars will like to see in the red, white, and blue would be Devon Hardin. Hardin was a solid player in the strong Pac-10 and is a big man with plenty of game down low. He would step in immediately and challenge Amir and Maxiell for minutes.

Picks Over the Past Five Years

The Pistons have been in the ECF for the past six seasons, so they really haven?t made many early selections. The last time they did draft in the lottery when they acquired Memphis' pick, they blew it hardcore. They selected Darko Milicic (2nd) instead of Carmelo Anthony (3), Chris Bosh (4), Dwyane Wade (5), Chris Kaman (6), Kirk Hinrich (7), T.J. Ford (8), David West (18), Boris Diaw (21), and even Travis Outlaw (23). What?s even funnier is that they then used the 25th selection in that same Draft to select Carlos Delfino, instead of Kendrick Perkins (27), Leandro Barbosa (28), and Josh Howard (29).

2007
Rodney Stuckey, 15th
Arron Afflalo, 27th
Sammy Mejia, 57th

2006
Will Blalock, 60th

2005
Jason Maxiell, 26th
Amir Johnson, 56th
Alex Acker, 60th

2004
Ricky Paulding, 55th

2003
Darko Milicic, 2nd
Carlos Delfino, 25th
Andreas Gliniadakis, 58th

Previous Editions of the 30 Teams, 30 Days Series

Whom do you want the Pistons to draft at number 29? Feel free to contact Jason M. Williams with your thoughts. He can be reached at Jason.Williams@RealGM.com for comments and questions.

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