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The Detroit Pistons entered the 2015 NBA Draft having made it entirely clear they’d be taking the best player available at No. 8 overall, regardless of need. Considering this declaration, it’s completely puzzling to Pistons fans and critics alike that it’s not Justise Winslow heading to the Motor City, but instead Arizona‘s Stanley Johnson.
At No. 8, Pistons select Arizona forward Stanley Johnson. He averaged 13.8 PPG, 6.5 RPG for Wildcats in 2014-15. pic.twitter.com/PGBjp0GPpx
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 26, 2015
Johnson and Winslow are similarly built, but Johnson will start in the NBA at the three, although he has the ability to play as a swing man if needed when the lineup plays small. However, many draft scholars did not have Johnson on the same pedestal as Winslow, so one must wonder exactly what made Detroit so comfortable bypassing Winslow, as he appears to be the better player.
There’s been plenty of speculation on whether or not Johnson can become a better shooter at the next level, which understandably has Pistons Nation concerned currently. Detroit already has its share of poor shooting, inconsistent guards in Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Brandon Jennings to deal with, so adding another question mark into the mix makes little to no sense, despite the upside of what the unit could look like when firing on all cylinders.
Stanley Johnson not a great shooter? He’ll fit right in with #Pistons backcourt. Caldwell-Pope and Jennings weren’t clanging enough I guess.
— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) June 26, 2015
Stan Van Gundy and company are either going to look like complete geniuses in three years, or they’ll likely be cleaning out their offices after another failed season. Regardless, the courage it took to pull the trigger on such a maneuver garners my respect, if nothing else.
Timothy Downs is a Featured Writer for www.RantSports.com. You can ‘like him’ on Facebook add him on Google or follow him Twitter @Tidow1212
