THE 2023 NBA Draft is set to take place later this month, with the next crop of potential superstars set to join the world’s most prestigious basketball league.

With plenty of hype around the talent in the 2023 draft class, thanks to a French phenom locked in as the number-one pick and lots of depth later down the order, June 23 (AEST) will change the future of the league in a big way.

Rookie Me Central will be continuing the NBA Draft Team Preview series, taking a look at each participating side’s draft hand and some potential options at each selection. The next side on the agenda are the Detroit Pistons.

The Pistons are in the midst of a rebuild, but have acquired several exciting young players, and despite recording a poor season in 2022/23, are still on track to compete in the years to come.

At the draft lottery, Detroit was considered the bad-luck story of the draw. Despite holding the worst record in the NBA, the Pistons fell to fifth as the Spurs, Hornets, Trail Blazers and Rockets all claimed higher selections. Regardless, they will be able to add even more young guns to a developing list.

Detroit Pistons

Draft selections

5, 31

Contracted players

Bojan Bogdanovic, Marvin Bagley, Cade Cunningham, Alec Burks (team option), James Wiseman (team option), Jaden Ivey, Killian Hayes, Jalen Duren, Isaiah Stewart, Dewayne Dedmon, Isaiah Livers (team option), Buddy Boeheim (qualifying offer), RJ Hampton, Eugene Omoruyi (team option), Jared Rhoden (qualifying offer)

The Pistons have a list that is chock full of former first-round draft picks, and look set to build one of the most well-rounded young rosters in the competition, and their two picks in the 2023 draft should continue that trend.

Detroit’s selection at pick five will likely see it look to add to their forward stocks given the team’s loaded guard talent such as Cunningham, Ivey and Hayes, all of whom appear to be en route to stardom.

The obvious selection for the Pistons if they choose to hold on to the fifth overall pick would be Jarace Walker, who offers plenty at the power forward position. Putting him next to Duren would create one of the best frontcourt duos in the league over years to come, especially given the deep bags they both posses. Walker is one of the best defenders in the draft class when it comes to versatility, given he is able to switch onto a number of positions.

Walker can also offer plenty on the offensive end too, proving better than most at his position when it comes to passing out of the dribble and perimeter shooting, having improved in both areas over this past season. Although the Pistons have a fair few big men already on their books, Walker has too much upside to pass up here.

With their second pick, the Pistons could look to add a guard such as Terquavion Smith, who would bring plenty of offence to the team’s bench. Although inefficient at times, he could slot into the team’s second unit as someone who will always look to generate scoring opportunities for himself.

Although their pick fell lower than expected, the Pistons still have the tools to keep their young talent acquisition rolling on, with the potential addition of the two players listed above set to address some holes in their current roster.