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Crystal Ballin' takes a team-by-team look at what should, could, and probably will happen in the June 28th NBA Draft.The Pistons are at a crossroads. With just one NBA title to show after five trips to the Conference Finals, they're now one of the league's oldest teams in a division with two of the league's up-and-coming-est teams (the Bulls and Cavs).
To re-tool on the fly and preserve their place among the league's true contenders, the team needs to get younger and more athletic -- and soon. Fortunately, they have two first-round picks: the 15th (courtesy of the Magic) as well as the 27th.
Needs: Pretty much everything but power forward. The team hasn't had a legitimate backup point guard in years, and considering there's at least a chance Chauncey Billups leaves, they might be in need of a starter. Following the Carlos Delfino trade, the team could use a swingman to backup Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince -- though there's always a chance Joe Dumars plans to address that need via free agency (Grant Hill? Morris Peterson?).
Oh, and a starting center would be nice, considering Chris Webber isn't expected to return and the only other option currently on the roster is Nazr Mohammed.
Best-Case Scenario: Texas A&M's Acie Law. Not sure how he'd slide past the Hawks and the Clippers, but he's a strong point in the mold of Chauncey Billups, capable of running the offense with a proven ability to take -- and hit -- the big shot when it matters most. Another option is USC's Nick Young, who would instantly become one of the team's most dynamic scoring threats.
More Likely Scenario: Eastern Washington's Rodney Stuckey. He's considered a "combo guard," which is usually just a nice way of saying "short shooting guard." The scouting reports say that he can score on anyone, which would be a welcome addition to the bench, but there's also a chance he could become "the next Flip Murray," which is rarely a good thing -- especially when "the first Flip Murray" is still on the roster.
Please Don't Take: Tiago Splitter. The Pistons do need a center, but Splitter needs to add more bulk before he can play the five on a regular basis. Plus, the fans might not react kindly to waiting for another Euro big man to develop.
Late-Round Possibilities: If Splitter is there for the 27th pick, he'd be worth the gamble, though that probably won't happen. Another option is Boston College's 6-10 Sean Williams, who was no stranger to trouble but could quickly mature in Detroit's veteran-laden locker room, or Ukrainian center Kyrylo Fesenko, whom the Pistons were reportedly interested in last year until he pulled out of the draft.
As for the second-round pick, the Pistons don't have many roster spots available, so expect the team's crack international scouting department to find some foreign guy we've never heard of but might become a useful cog after spending a couple of years playing overseas.
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