Detroit Pistons select Isaiah Stewart No. 16 overall in the 2020 NBA Draft

With the 16th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the Detroit Pistons select center Isaiah Stewart out of Washington.

Newly appointed Detroit Pistons general manager Troy Weaver took an intriguing guard with the seventh overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.  Now Weaver is set to pair point guard Killian Hayes with an impressive big-man in Isaiah Stewart, way of Washington.

The Detroit Pistons acquired the 16th overall pick in the draft after trading a ‘highly’ protected future first-round pick to the Houston Rockets in exchange for the draft choice and 35-year old small forward Trevor Ariza.  Ariza carries a $12-plus million cap hit in 2020 but also has a $1.8 million dead cap number.  The Pistons may decide just to part ways with the veteran.

Stewart is a 6-foot-9 center with a wingspan of 7-foot-4.  Stewart is a physical glass cleaning-type player that is a tremendous offensive rebounder.  The Detroit Pistons required a physical center since trading the high-priced Andre Drummond to Cleveland last season.

Stewart won’t be a player that will excel in guarding opponents away from the rim, but he’s a nice compliment to Detroit’s desire to use the pick and roll.

Stewart, often referred to as a man-child, averaged 17 points per game, with the Huskies playing as a focal point of their offense.  He also pulled down 8.8 boards, and 2.1 blocks per game, while converting 57% from the field last season in 32 games with Washington.

Stewart also led all of the Freshmen in the PAC-12 in points, blocks, and boards per game last season.  The large center also converted on 77% of his free throw opportunities, a very significant plus for a player playing the center position.