That’s all fair. I know a lot of smart people who say we are way worse at identifying guys with “upside” than we think but man… Hendricks just feels like the ultimate role player more than a future star.
I love the idea of Whitmore, but he never really popped whenever I watched Villanova last year.
Will be an interesting decision.
Speaking of: Duncan’s minutes have gone way up this postseason. A big piece of that is Herro going down, but it is interesting.
My personal fan take would be Whitmore>Hendricks>Walker, but could flip Walker and Hendricks depending on the highlight package put together.
I’ve never believed somebody who is a bad shooter can become a good shooter. I think you can improve somewhat, but it’s just much more likely you never become really good. The Thompsons are so bad at shooting, even in wide open catch-and-shoot opportunities, that I think even with improvement they will still be really bad. Maybe the athleticism and playmaking makes up for it? I also might be falling into the trap that I see Cunningham and Ivey as two quality on ball guys, so adding a 3rd who can’t shoot is as much a luxury as it is a mistake. But… when you stink you have to draft talent and not fit, so will be fun to follow who it ends up being.
They’re a non-shooter who is overaged at 20 playing against 16-18 years old kids in OTE league. Also, Amen is a PG and he is redundant with Cade and Jaden. Ausur would be a better fit but it’s a gamble considering their shooting. Pistons needs shooting from the wings.
Whitmore and Hendricks makes the most sense because they’re athletic wing players.
Yeah, I get that they are in a glorified prep school league and that it is hard to make sense of what they’ve done this year.
They also are ridiculously good athletes at 6-7 who have a ton of upside.
Feel like they are definitely wildcard gambles, but that’s the type of stuff that everyone will say was obvious in 5 years.
Hendricks or Jarace Walker feel like guys that were amazing picks at 8 or 9 but don’t really inspire me at 5, but I don’t follow the NBA that closely and realize that this is partially a logical fallacy.
Hendricks is only 19 and is an easy fit as a 3&D wing player with small 5 potential because he can be rim protector. I’m higher on Hendricks and I can envision him sticking with 3 and D early on then expand his game after it. Not many 6’9" players who can shoot, is athletic and can defend. That to me is worth the #5 pick.
IMO, their production should be better than it was playing as college freshmen against not top-end high school teams.
My issue with Hendricks is that he didn’t handle the ball at all or create his own offense. Much more of a four than a three.
That’s fine, but I think the swing stat for him is whether he can become a wing who can serve as a secondary creator etc.
I think the Pistons need some sort of 3-and-D guy at the SF or PF spot - someone that can play off the ball, shoot, elevate their defense, and have decent offensive chops. The Thompsons just seem like more of a high risk selection since they can’t shoot (huge red flag for me) and I’m not sure they are good enough athletes, defenders, or supporting cast players to fill that need. I wouldn’t trust anything I say about NBA scouting, but the age/shooting/competition/results makes me more worried that they are super risky. Maybe Hendricks and Whittmore are going to top out as “role players” but I’m not sure who isn’t outside the top 3.
I like Cam really hope he’s there. Ability to get your own shot is so precious and he’s got that potential in a way none of the other plausible threes seem to.
The thompsons are also about 6-12 months older than Hendricks, Walker & Whitmore and neither shoot 3s well
in theory a roster with Cade & Jaden doesn’t need a creator first player, especially if they dont have the long ball
I think Hendricks is a floor play, and the Thompson’s are ceiling plays
Hendricks’ seems like he can defend 3’s and 4’s and make 3’s - EXTREMELY ideally he’s like OG Anunoby?
Thompsons are pretty unique which makes them hard to peg, but if you can teach them to shoot you have something (they wouldn’t be the first guys to learn to shoot)
I agree. If I had to bet on one of the Thompson twin to improve their shooting, it’s Ausur. His mechanics has smoothed out and less broken, but he’s still a minus shooter on the floor. Pistons have enough of them on the roster.
At that point, you’re taking prospects who fits the roster and have upside to do more. They need 3 and D wing players more than anything.
I still think you are not looking for roster fit when your roster has won like 40 games in 2 seasons
Hendricks comp goes anywhere from Jerami Grant to a skinner version of JJJ. He can guard 3 to 5 but shouldn’t be counted on banging bodies against bigs on a nightly basis. If you think he can develop his ball handling and driving to the hoop, there’s value to taking Hendricks.
I didn’t mean OG as a negative. If Ivey and Cade pop, they’d murder for OG.
I like hendrix. Other than 3s he looks like he’s going to struggle on offense as long as you close out effectively on him, but it’s hard to find true 3&D guys. Especially at that length. They aren’t stars, but you need players like that. His defensive film kind of reminds me of franz. Just in front of you no matter what with arms way up high, and sometimes bullying a ball handler into the coffin corner. If you can get that from an elite shooter, maybe don’t overthink it. But that’s my opinion as of today.
My expectation for the Pistons is play-in appearance next season so roster fit is a must for me. They have a good young core. They need to add around them. A healthy Cade with improving Jaden and Duren. Plus throw in a good vets in Bogan and Burk. Adding a solid FA pieces or two to add to #5 pick, I think they’ll improve a lot more than last season. It was a lost season the moment Cade opted for the surgery so development is a priority for the Pistons.
Plus, it’s an argument to make if they have a top 3 pick but since they’re not and the tier between pick 4-10 are the same, just go for the roster fit.
that’s a pretty dang big jump
That would be great, but feels like an unrealistic expectation. This is coming from an optimistic Pistons fan. I just don’t see how you can realistically think you can go from 17 wins and the worst team in the league to 42+ wins, which was the line for the play-in this year. Cunningham comes back and Ivey and Duren should be better as second year players, but that’s a massive jump.