As the Detroit Pistons’ hunt for a new president of basketball operations continues, there’s still some important work for the organization to do a week from now.
Both the 2024 NBA Draft Lottery and combine will take place in Chicago starting on Sunday, and Detroit may be the center of attention in the Windy City. For starters, the Pistons have the best odds of landing the No. 1 pick for the fourth consecutive year.
Furthermore, the intrigue surrounding the team’s soon-to-be president-hire will be too great to ignore. While whomever ownership hires to fill the president of basketball operations role will have the freedom to clean house, team sources tell The Athletic, that person isn’t yet in place and it is unlikely that will change within the next week. As I’ve previously suggested, I think a hire will be made in mid-to-late May. General manager Troy Weaver and his staff have been continuing operations as normal during this search but doing so with the understanding that no one’s future with the organization is guaranteed.
Until I’m told otherwise, it has been my understanding that Weaver and Co. will be conducting interviews and so forth with prospects.
Who are those prospects, you ask?
This draft class has been labeled as one of the worst in recent memory, as many executives and scouts don’t believe there is real star power at the top. Opinions vary. Some clubs I’ve spoken to don’t believe the players selected early will be worth their comparatively hefty rookie salaries. Some clubs I’ve spoken to have suggested that a top-three pick in this draft will net a good player or retain good trade value. Some executives view the No. 1 pick in this class the same as they view the No. 5 or No. 6 pick in a “normal” draft.
Maybe more than any other class in recent memory, the top of 2024 NBA Draft is truly a “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” — and I’m not sure anyone sees anything other than a handful of “sevens.”
Regardless, the Pistons still have to do their homework in the event that they keep their top-five pick and don’t trade it. So, here are seven prospects that I think will seriously be in play in the top five (yes, even without knowing who the president of basketball operations will be). Oh, and Detroit also has the 53rd pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, so I’ll briefly touch on a few names to pay attention to at the combine in that range.
Top-five prospects
If Detroit lands the No. 1 pick
Alexandre Sarr | 7-1 big | 19 years old | Perth Wildcats
While Sarr isn’t the unanimous No. 1 pick at this point, he seems to be the favorite. I think he’d definitely be the top choice for the Pistons if the ping-pong balls are kind.
Sarr has the highest upside of any prospect in this class, in my opinion, and has improved greatly this season playing overseas. Defensively, Sarr has a chance to be special. He defends well in space for his size. He flies around the court and can stay in front of small players. At the rim, Sarr is an intimidating presence because of his length. And if he’s not blocking shots, he’s likely disrupting them.
Offensively, there has been some fun, intriguing stuff from Sarr with the ball in his hands in both transition and half-court settings. I also believe he’s shown good-enough touch to be a legitimate shooting threat at some point in his career.
Ultimately though, Detroit would be selecting Sarr for who he could become on defense. This franchise desperately needs elite rim protection in the frontcourt, and I’m not sure there is a better prospect in this class who could both check that box and potentially grow into more than just a lob threat on offence
If Detroit lands picks 2-3
Stephon Castle | 6-6 wing | 19 years old | Connecticut
For a roster that needs more defense on the wing and high-IQ players, Castle makes too much sense for Detroit in this range. Oh, and he’s already a winner.
Castle is a guard/wing hybrid who somewhat reminds me of the Orlando…
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