5. Detroit Pistons take Rob Dillingham
Kentucky guards go back-to-back in this mock draft, as the Pistons go with Reed Sheppard’s former teammate, Rob Dillingham. Dillingham may not be the perfect fit for Detroit and Cade Cunningham, depending on whether or not teams view Dillingham as a lead guard.
However, they could be effective in sharing a backcourt, similar to (but to a much lesser extent) the Dallas Mavericks with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Doncic and Cunningham would be the big physical guards who initiate most of the offense. But Irving and Dillingham would be the gifted scorers you rely on to get you a bucket and create momentum when needed.
At 6-foot-3 and 176 pounds, Dillingham’s main concern as a prospect is his defensive limitations. Rightfully so, but the Pistons have a few defensive-minded pieces they are building around in Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson that can compensate for Dililngham’s weakness. The Pistons, with the worst record in the league at 14-68, also can’t afford to worry so much about fit.
They must prioritize finding the best available talent with the highest potential to become a star. Outside of Cade Cunningham, the Pistons lack another go-to player. They need to be swinging for upside to find one in the draft. Dillingham, with his true star potential, could be the one to fill this crucial role for the Pistons.