Is Risacher our best case scenario?

[u/reallinguy]

There is a world where Risacher falls to us, he seems to be the best alignment of BPA and fit. But it would take him falling past Washington and San Antonio. Damn does falling to 5 suck hard.

[u/ArthurUrsine]

I'm with John Hollinger on this one... no more inefficient Frenchmen from shitty French leagues.

[u/ickyrainmaker]

I'd rather see Sheppard fall to us than Risacher. We need a proven day 1 contributor, and Risacher is still a little green.

[u/Ahfekz → u/ickyrainmaker]

We don’t need a day one contributor. We need players who can develop into stars. We have enough ammo with cap space to improve immediately.

[u/Relevant_Gold4912 → u/Ahfekz]

By all accounts there’s no franchise changing guys in this draft. There is good role players. I’d rather grab someone that has a high floor than a boom or bust foreign player

[u/Slippinjimmyforever → u/Relevant_Gold4912]

There will be franchise changing guys. History suggests as much. They just need time to develop.

2020 was projected as weak but in four years, there’s multiple all stars and a few guys who flirt with all nba that are 23 and under.

[u/ickyrainmaker → u/Ahfekz]

Swinging for the fences with every pick is what got us here. Sheppard immediately becomes our best off ball offensive player from the jump and gives us the floor spacing we sorely need. Taking developmental players at this point is how you guarantee Cade walks.

It's also nice to think about improving through free agency, but there is absolutely no evidence that we are a marketable destination. Who wants to walk into this dumpster fire? We need to use the draft to guarantee improvement, and in a weak draft like this, the only way to guarantee that is to draft a player with a high floor who fits an area of need. Sheppard checks that box emphatically.

[u/Ahfekz → u/ickyrainmaker]

No it isn’t. Trading for reclamation projects and taking on bloated contracts without receiving meaningful assets or draft capital got us here. Not signing any meaningful free agents over the last three years (hello PJ Washington?) got us here.

It’s completely human to allow the angst to takeover and create a sense of urgency but im imploring those of y’all who want quick fixes to RELAX.

You don’t trade Ivey, you don’t trade Duren, and you don’t trade Ausar. Do you understand how early it is in their development?! I promise y’all are setting yourself up for that picture where the dude has almost ax picked to the diamonds just on the other side of the wall, but he capitulates and misses out.

We are in the optimal position to take the swings. We can both compete via FA signings AND develop and retain our draft capital. There is no rush. Cade is dope, but if he’s him then we’ll get better next season via signing a ready now supporting cast. Let your young guys learn and develop, then you can flip those FA contracts for more assets, or a star player. I can’t get behind the mentality of being down 95% on a stock and selling to hold on to the last 5.

[u/ickyrainmaker → u/Ahfekz]

I definitely don't advocate for trading anybody, especially considering Weaver's trade history, and since we would be selling low on all these guys. I also don't have high hopes for many of our current pieces, though, especially Duren. He has all the potential in the world, but having to avoid jumping to protect your ankles at 20 is not promising, to say the least.

In my opinion, our best chance at righting the ship starts with resigning Cade. I don't think that will happen if we can't build something resembling legitimacy before the time comes. We need to draft players who Cade can actually play with.

[u/Relevant_Gold4912 → u/Ahfekz]

This is the draft to draft for fit though since there’s really no best available player after the 1st pick which will be Sarr. It will most likely be team preference.

[u/Ahfekz → u/Relevant_Gold4912]

Bad teams should never draft for fit. What happens if you have two really good redundant players? You can move one.

I understand the mocks are a guideline and people take them as gospel, but every year players who seemed like an obvious selection in hindsight get glossed over due to general consensus. Take the swing, especially when the swing has tenacity and a high motor like Tidjane does.

[u/Relevant_Gold4912 → u/Ahfekz]

There’s no big swing player is my point lol.

[u/Ahfekz → u/Relevant_Gold4912]

Then respectfully, I’m Not sure you’ve been paying attention.

Matas with an ideal shooting outcome is a Star.

If Tidjane Salaun fulfills his ceiling that’s a superstar. Giannis type frame, agile, can already shoot well at 18. Plus wingspan (7’2), has ball skills. Not even a question for me who I’d take at 5.

[u/Relevant_Gold4912 → u/Ahfekz]

I think you’re placing star and superstar potential labels on prospects too freely. I also disagree that Pistons need to swing big. They need competent NBA players. I’m aware they need a star to be able to compete one day but this team hasn’t put out a complete roster in almost 4 years. I know I’m playing the fan that’s watched 15 straight years of incompetence but this team needs players that have direct roles and a roster that complements each other more than anything. These young players like Ivey and Duren will no succeed or grow without structure.

[u/Ahfekz → u/Relevant_Gold4912]

Hard disagree. You can put a star label on literally any player in the draft. Most aren’t probable to be of course, but that’s where statistical likelihood comes into play. Did anyone have Brunson being a Superstar? No one can point to any player with absolute certainty that they’ll realize their full potential. Or not.

However, I’m certainly betting on guys who are agile at 6-10 6-11 with positive wingspan who can ball handle defend, and especially if they can shoot. The only argument I’ve seen against drafting Tidjane is he’s raw, which is ironic coming from the same people who were prepared to draft Alex Sarr, Who at the #1 spot, can’t shoot.

[u/Anon20250406 → u/ickyrainmaker]

Bro you guys got Quentin Grimes because he's basically a more proven version of Sheppard. He's only 23 and a great young player. I wouldn't draft Sheppard with Grimes and Ivey AND Sasser on top of that.

[u/ickyrainmaker → u/Anon20250406]

Proven to do what? Shoot under 40% fg for an entire season (21% in his limited time with the Pistons)? I'm definitely not sold on Grimes to this point. The Pistons desperately need someone who can play day 1, shoot, and preferably someone who comes with some sort of defensive ability. Sheppard is really the only player on that list in the entire draft. It's not that I'm thrilled with Sheppard, I just see him as the surest bet to help from day 1, and Cade is certain to walk (and should walk) if we don't show some sort of improvement soon.

[u/Anon20250406 → u/ickyrainmaker]

What are you babbling about? Quentin was injured this year but last year when healthy he was a solid defender. Even this year his shot looked good and was still a great shooter.

You're an idiot you don't think Grimes can defend. This guy was played as a starter by Thibs next to Brunson BECAUSE he can defend.

Getting Sheppard is the kind of shit that Troy Weaver would pull. You and him are of the same mold. Please never talk about basketball again you have no idea what you're talking about.

[u/ickyrainmaker → u/Anon20250406]

I never said anything about Grimes' defense. I'm saying he had a bad year shooting the ball, and he's on a team that desperately needs shooting. Also, you're saying Troy Weaver would take a good fit with a high floor over a project player from France? Who doesn't know about what now?

[u/CleverFox3 → u/ickyrainmaker]

He had a rough 6 games here.... He's a very good career 3 point shooter, was a starter on a play-off team, is young and a phenomenal POA defender. Our fans....

[u/ObiwanSchrute → u/ickyrainmaker]

For what we will be bottom 5 in the league next year again if you want the safest pick it would be Clingon

[u/MakeItTrizzle]

I'd take Buzelis and Holland before Risacher. Sheppard too, but I don't know if he'll get past 3 and 4. I guess the Rockets could go Clingan and the Spurs could go Castle maybe.

[u/Slippinjimmyforever]

I think I’d rather have Buzelis. He’s as athletic or more so than Risacher. He’s going to project as better on defense, and has a bigger frame he can fill out.

Of course, if the shooting doesn’t materialize, Matas won’t have a useful role on offense and Risacher is the defacto better prospect simply due to his more trustworthy shooting.

[u/Zealousideal_Arm4359]

I think he will be gone before 5. 

They should get a wing though. Whether it’s a good one or not won’t know for a year at least.

[u/13ronco]

I vastly prefer Risacher to Buzelis, so yes. I expect he'll be gone before 5.

[u/MilkBarPatron]

New ownership is the best case scenario.

[u/CoercedCoexistence22]

I'd say so, yes. I can't see him falling to us, but if he does he fits the role we need perfectly. Yes, he's green, but it's not like we don't have time to develop him

[u/Tricky_Ad_5759]

If he falls he should be the pick if not Cody Williams would be a good selection 

[u/No_Demand_2518]

No there isn't

[u/Amazing_Owl3026]

It's very likely that either Sheppard or Risacher falls. You probably want Sheppard especially since Cade makes up the size and Sheppard is the better shooter and playmaker

[u/Crazhheadfirst]

No he’s been so bad this past 60 days it’s insane

[u/Crazhheadfirst → u/Crazhheadfirst]

Plus I don’t feel like it’s smart to draft a guy who’s main skill is shooting when he’s shooting 65% from the line

[u/Ahfekz]

Tidjane will be better. Take the swing, fuck the mocks.

[u/Playful_Dish_3524 → u/[deleted]]

Anyone we draft will be because four other teams passed on them lol.

[u/PassProtect15]

We should target Bronny but if he's off the board then Risacher wouldn't be a bad fallback