The Detroit Pistons are expected to be back and better than they were this season, and one overlooked offseason move could help move the needle.
The Detroit Pistons exceeded expectations last season, becoming the first team to ever triple their win total from the season prior.
Entering the 2024-25 campaign with expectations of maybe making the play-in tournament, Detroit instead surged and earned the sixth seed, ultimately losing in the first round to the New York Knicks.
With it now clear that Cade Cunningham is a franchise centerpiece and the Pistons already surrounding him with complementary talent, they still need to make some moves to improve around the margins.
The front office could do just that this summer by bringing in a hometown hero in the NBA Draft.
Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty ImagesDetroit Pistons should draft Danny WolfÂ
After two seasons playing at Yale, Danny Wolf transferred to the University of Michigan. The seven-foot center does not play like a traditional college big. He can handle the ball, pass with the best of them, and space the floor, shooting a solid 33.6% from 3-point range.
He also led the Big 10 in rebounds and played a big role in the Wolverines’ march to the Sweet Sixteen.
Wolf can create for both himself and his teammates with his flashy handle and passing, and he can get to the basket or pull up from midrange or beyond. In the interior, he is a high-level rebounder despite his lack of athleticism, although he is far from a perfect prospect.
Teams will need his shooting to improve, and his defense is simply lacking, although pairing him with Isaiah Stewart on the second unit would minimize that.
His biggest concerns are his turnovers. He averaged 3.2 turnovers per game in his third college season.
However, if all goes well, Detroit will have a big floor-spacing player who can handle the ball and open up lanes to the basket for Ausar Thompson, Ron Holland, and Jaden Ivey.
Pistons might have to trade for Wolf
Most mock drafts have Wolf going in the late first round, and the Pistons only own one pick in this year’s draft, 37th overall from the Toronto Raptors.
It’s very likely that Wolf won’t be on the board when the Pistons are called to make their pick. Luckily, with players like Simone Fontecchio out of the rotation and 15 second-round picks to trade, Detroit could move up a few spots to nab Wolf.
In Detroit, a backup unit of Dennis Schroder (assuming the re-signs), Holland, Stewart, Marcus Sasser, and Wolf would give the Pistons plenty of versatility.
All five of those players could be elevated into the starting five if needed, and any extra shooting (even shaky shooting) around Cunningham will only open the floor up more for one of the more promising young guards in the NBA.Â