The 2015 NBA Draft is just days away, which means it’s time to separate the fiction from the fact when it comes to the Detroit Pistons‘ #8 pick. Here’s our list of 3 Pistons NBA Draft Rumors You Need To Know.
1) Stanley Johnson To Detroit With #8 Draft Pick?
The Detroit Pistons and head coach/president of basketball operations Stan Van Gundy are in the market for a wing in the 2015 NBA Draft, with Arizona’s Stanley Johnson a potential fit for the franchise when they hit the clock at #8 on June 25th.
Per Sam Vecenie of CBS Sports:
Johnson would be a pretty perfect fit for what the Pistons want to do and what Van Gundy likes from a wing. He can really get out in transition, can handle the ball, and really can lock down and defend when he is engaged. He needs to improve his outside shot a little bit, but if he can do that, he would have borderline all-star two-way potential. He’d be a good value pick, with the added benefit of fitting in to a system.
Other names mentioned by Vecenie as options at #8 were Duke’s Justise Winslow, international standout Mario Henzonja, Kansas’ Kelly Oubre and lifelong Pistons fan Devin Booker out of Kentucky.
2) Detroit Targeting Frank Kaminsky In Draft As A Greg Monroe Replacement?
The Pistons would love to keep free agent-to-be Greg Monroe in the fold, but there’s a chance the team could end up essentially swapping Monroe for a young replacement via the draft.
According to David Mayo of MLive.com, the team could consider Wisconsin’s Frank Kaminsky if the NBA Draft Lottery cards fall just right:
The Pistons, who will draft No. 8, are at risk of losing Greg Monroe — more popularly nicknamed “Moose” — via unrestricted free agency this summer.
Despite ongoing assertions that they hope to keep Monroe, the Pistons simultaneously must search for his replacement at power forward.
Enter Kaminsky, a multi-dimensional range shooter who could stretch the floor and give the Pistons more opportunity to play president-coach Stan Van Gundy’s preferred four-out, one-in offensive brand.
3) Pistons Targeting J.P. Tokoto In Second Round?
Detroit worked out 6’6″ swingman J.P. Tokoto out of UNC, and were impressed the offensive skill he showed. Tokoto was known as a supremely athletic defensive stopper for the Tar Heels, but Detroit wanted to see how his lackluster offense had progressed this offseason.
“I went in with the mindset, just attack, kill the competition.,” Tokoto said. “I know teams wanted to see my improvement with my shooting. They know I was working out at IMG Academy for a few weeks. They just wanted to see the improvement in my jump shot and luckily the first game I didn’t miss a shot. Second game, I shot just as well. As far as the games, I did want I wanted to do and did what I needed to do to help myself going into these workouts.”
Tokoto averaged 8.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.5 steals, and shot 43 percent as a junior last season.
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