To most observers, there's a clear Big Three at the top of the NBA Draft in Jabari Smith, Chet Holmgren and Paolo Banchero. But not to Pistons GM Troy Weaver -- at least not anymore.
"I didn’t see it as a big three," Weaver said after the Pistons fell from No. 3 to No. 5 in Tuesday night's lottery.
But what was Weaver supposed to say? That the Pistons got screwed? That it was Big Three or bust? That they'll have to settle for a second-tier talent? He said what he had to say, and he also said this:
"You guys know me, we don’t cry over spilt milk. We don’t cry. We're going to pick five, we’re going to be ready for five, we’re going to do our homework and vet it all out. So no, there’s no disappointment where we're picking. We're excited to be able to draft No. 5 and we’ll be ready to go on draft night."
Fact is, the Pistons did get screwed. (Again.) They entered the lottery tied with the Magic and the Rockets for the best odds of picking No. 1 and were the only team among them to slip out of the top three. They were tied with the Magic and the Rockets for the best odds of landing in the top four and somehow fell to five.
But it doesn't have to screw them in the draft. There will be plenty of talent on the board for the Pistons, even if Smith, Holmgren and Banchero are gone.
Iowa's Keegan Murray could be there; the sharpshooting forward made it rain last season. Purdue's Jaden Ivey could be there; the explosive guard was a living highlight reel. The Pistons could even take a swing at Kentucky forward Shadeon Sharpe; the five-star early enrollee has drawn comparisons to Zach Lavine.
"I’ve been on record saying I like this draft as much as last year’s draft," said Weaver. "I’m comfortable with the players that are slated in the top half of the lottery. I think it stacks up very well versus last year’s picks."
Last year was the boost the Pistons' rebuild needed. They landed the face of their franchise first overall. Cade Cunningham is the leader of a growing core that also features Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart, two All-Rookie selections in 2020-21. This year is about taking the core to another level. Murray would be a natural addition as the Pistons try to space the floor around their rising star.
Asked if he's looking for a player who compliments Cunningham's abilities as a ball-handler, Weaver said, "We’re going to pick the guy that fits best with our organization moving forward."
"He’ll have the same attributes that these other guys have, but you absolutely factor in Cade and the rest of the guys. That’s easy because these guys (in the draft) have some similarities with Cade, Saddiq, Isaiah, etcetera, so it won’t be difficult to add this person and this player to the mix," Weaver said.
No, the Pistons won't cry. Weaver has made four first-round picks in his tenure as GM and three of them have earned All-Rookie honors. And only one of them came from the lottery. With Weaver's eye for talent, they have a chance to add another face of their future next month.
The fifth overall pick in 2019, Darius Garland, went to his first All-Star Game this season. The fifth overall pick in 2018, Trae Young, went to his second. The fifth overall pick in 2017, De'Aaron Fox, is another one of the NBA's best young players. There is no limit on who or what the fifth overall pick in 2022 can be.
"The last two drafts we’ve had three players make All-Rookie, so we’re very comfortable with our culture here and what the coaches have been able to do with these young players," said Weaver. "We’re confident whoever we add to the mix will be able to assimilate and follow the rest of the group."
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