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Everyone in the NBA community knew the Detroit Pistons would be bad in 2021-22, even after adding 2021 No. 1 pick Cade Cunningham. Sure enough, the Pistons are just 17-47 on the season, which is the third-worst record in the league. Only the Houston Rockets and Orlando Magic are worse, but these three teams currently share the same 14.0% odds to win the top pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.
Given the standings, that likely will remain the case when the season is over. The Oklahoma City Thunder have the fourth-worst record but have four fewer losses, so that gap will be tough to close and Detroit has little incentive to win games to do it. With the Pistons in a rebuild, it's never too early to look ahead at the upcoming draft.
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Detroit Pistons 2022 NBA Draft targets
Chet Holmgren is a 7-foot freshman phenom at Gonzaga. While he is not the consensus first pick, Holmgren could very well be the top pick and must be right on top of the Pistons' draft list. Right now, Detroit's backcourt is safe in the hands of Cunningham, who battled injuries and a slow start, but now is making a strong case for Rookie of the Year. However, they could use an upgrade in the frontcourt, especially with Jerami Grant's future with the franchise in question.
Holmgren is an incredibly unique prospect who has been impressive at Gonzaga. After 27 games played, he is averaging a crisp 14.4 points, 9.7 boards, 3.6 blocks, and 1.9 assists. He is also shooting 61.6% from the field and an amazing 43.8% from behind the arc, albeit on just 3.3 attempts per game. He has range, defensive presence, and would be a major boost for the Pistons, should they get him in the draft.
With Holmgren in the lineup, the Pistons would boast one of the most talented young duos in the NBA, making for a dangerous pick-and-roll and pick-and-pop game. Additionally, the Pistons have shown that they can take all the time in the world, so even if he does not hit the ground running right away, the front office and the coaching staff will give Holmgren time to adjust to the league. One big question mark is his slight frame, and he will definitely need some time to add weight and get stronger.
If he is available when the Pistons are on the clock, Holmgren might be the pick to take.
Jabari Smith
If the Pistons turn to wing scoring, the Auburn freshman is the way to go. Jabari Smith has been great for the Tigers all season long, averaging 17.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and a block. He has also shot 44.2% from the field and an incredible 43.6% on 3-pointers on 5.3 attempts per game. The Pistons might find their long-term replacement for Jerami Grant if they choose to go for Smith, who has a ton of versatility on both ends of the floor as a 6-foot-10 stud. He has Auburn in position to potentially be a top seed in the NCAA Tournament, along with Gonzaga.
When it comes to the Pistons with Smith in the lineup, it is similar to what could be the case if they choose Holmgren. The two-man game with Cade Cunningham looks great on paper, despite Smith being more of a shooter than a driver to the basket. However, if he improves on that segment, it could look even better, so the Pistons will likely think about this future connection as well when making their pick.
Regardless of circumstance, if the Pistons are looking for a potential two-way superstar wing, they should look no further than Jabari Smith.
AJ Griffin
Griffin is a freshman coming out of Duke with a ton of upside. While he does not have the raw stats of the other two prospects on this list, he has been terrific playing alongside fellow young stud Paolo Banchero, another potential top pick.
While Griffin's overall numbers aren't huge (averages of 10.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists), his efficiency is impressive. He is shooting 50.9% from the field and an incredible 48.3% from behind the arc.
In terms of fit for the Pistons, he could slide right in at the Jerami Grant position. As mentioned, Grant might not be the long-term solution for the Pistons on the wing and could be traded in the near future. While Smith is more of a big man, Griffin is the prototypical two-way small forward. If that is what they are interested in, the Pistons should definitely look into AJ Griffin when the 2022 NBA Draft comes around.
