Detroit Pistons: Understanding what transpired at the 2019 Draft

The Detroit Pistons were very active for the 2019 NBA Draft, starting the night before and going through the end of the second round. As the dust settles, the Pistons are a new team with a bright future.

The league was a flurry of activity for this year’s draft, and the Detroit Pistons were no exception. Within twenty-four hours, Detroit officially drafted two players, traded a power forward for a wing, turned one existing pick into four future picks, and presumably traded for two more draftees. The highlights are as follows:

First, nearing midnight EST the night before the draft, the Pistons traded Jon Leuer to the Milwaukee Bucks for Tony Snell and the 30th pick. This was an impressive trade, considering the Pistons filled a looming need at shooting guard and garnered an additional pick in the upcoming draft (1st round, 30th overall). Keep this pick in mind, though, heading into the draft itself.

With their first official pick, the Pistons selected Sekou Doumbouya. Because of the move for Snell, it seemed less likely the Pistons would draft another guard, yet it was still surprising to add a power forward at number 15. Nonetheless, Doumbouya has excellent agility, size, and potential in the Pistons’ depth chart.

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That 30th pick from Milwaukee? With Kevin Porter Jr. still on the board, the Pistons traded their rights to the Bucks’ pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers. At the moment, it seemed unwise to pass on a potential backup combo guard, but the return on that pick–four second-round picks which could extend through 2024–was too great to pass up. This means Jon Leuer has now been turned into a starting wing in Snell and four assets in the next five years. Truly, Ed Stefanski is playing the long game.

A little later at number 37, the Pistons traded up, sending their 45th pick and two future second rounders (perhaps some of the Cleveland picks) to Dallas. With that 37th slot, the Pistons chose Lithuanian wing, Deividas Sirvydis, their second international player of the evening. Barely 19, the 6’9″ swingman is a good shooter, especially from the wing positions beyond the arc. By the way, the Pistons officially drafted Isaiah Roby at 45, but he is involved in the deal bringing in Sirvydis.

Finally, once again closing in on midnight, the Pistons made one last move. They acquired Jordan Bone of the University of Tennessee, in a roundabout trade from New Orleans (via Atlanta and Philadelphia). Bone was a three-year point guard for Tennessee, and an instrumental part of the 2019 squad ranked the best in the country for much of the year. While there, he was a career 42.4% shooter–35.3% from three–averaging nearly 15 points per 40 minutes. If given the playing time, Bone will be a suitable backup to Reggie Jackson at the point.

dark. Next. Getting to know Sekou Doumbouya

The 2019 Draft was a long and eventful night for the Detroit Pistons. Ed Stefanski and the rest of the front office made some shrewd moves to improve the future in theory. With Summer League just around the corner in July, we will soon see how these moves look in practice.

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