Detroit Pistons: Top 7 first-round options in the 2020 NBA Draft

As the 2020 NBA Draft approaches, take a look at what the Detroit Pistons 2020 draft board will look like and which names could be near the top of that list.

The Detroit Pistons kicked off their offseason Monday, trading Bruce Brown for Dzanan Musa and a 2021 second-round pick signaling the Troy Weaver era’s start. The biggest test for him this offseason will be what to do with the 7th pick in the draft on Wednesday.

Initially, when the NBA Draft Lottery took place, Weaver was “excited” to be picking seventh, as draft day arrives, the Pistons are weighing out their options. The team’s biggest hole is the point guard of the future with only an aging Derrick Rose on the roster, but this roster needs a talent infusion from top to bottom.

Here is what their draft board might look like entering the 2020 NBA Draft

1: Lamelo Ball, PG, Illawarra Hawks

If Lamelo Ball or Anthony Edwards fall to the Detroit Pistons, it should be a no brainer, run to the podium pick. I gave Ball the slight edge due to his higher floor. Ball has some of the highest upside in the draft with exceptional size, vision, and passing ability for a young guard.

With the ball in his hand, he can create for himself with his crafty ball-handling and finishing ability or make great passes to any part of the floor. On the Detroit Pistons, Ball would possibly already be the best shot creator on the team and have the ability to make the rest of his teammates better with his great passing.

The biggest issues with Ball mostly come from the mental aspect of basketball. His effort waxes and wanes on defense, but he isn’t a bad defender when it is there. On offense, he forces a lot of tough, contested threes causing his 25% three-point percentage.

If he gets those sorted out, he will be an outstanding lead guard with the potential to be elite, depending on his jumper. Overall, Ball is a high upside option who could benefit from Dwane Casey’s player development ability.

2: Anthony Edwards, SG, Georgia

Anthony Edwards would be another easy choice for the front office. Edwards is already built like an NBA player with a 6-foot-5, 225-pound frame and great athleticism. That athleticism is evident in transition, where he can be a load to stop in the open floor.

He will also already enter the league as an NBA ready scorer. He does a great job creating shots from himself at all three levels of the floor. He has a wide variety of moves like the side step, step back, and more, so he can create a decent shot whenever he wants.

The biggest issue with Edwards is his shot selection. He is such a good shot creator that often, he will settle for a tough contested shot instead of moving the ball for an easier shot. On defense, he should be a much better defender than he is given his natural gifts.

Edwards would be a great test for Dwane Casey. If he can get Edwards to sharpen his shot selection and defensive intensity, he could be a legit star. If not, he will be an inefficient scorer who will put up empty stats.