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Detroit Pistons: 2016 Offseason Grades

By Gerald Bourguet

Mar 12, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Ish Smith (1) dribbles past Detroit Pistons guard Reggie Jackson (1) during the first quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Ish Smith (1) dribbles past Detroit Pistons guard Reggie Jackson (1) during the first quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Detroit Pistons
Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Henry Ellenson (Marquette) walks to the stage after being selected as the number eighteen overall pick to the Detroit Pistons in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

The Draft

When Henry Ellenson — a top-10 prospect on most draft boards — fell all the way to No. 18 in the 2016 NBA Draft, the Pistons lucked their way into the type of stretch-big that should fit in perfectly with Stan Van Gundy’s spread offense.

A seven-foot power forward from Marquette, Ellenson averaged 17.0 points, 9.7 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game in his freshman season. He’s an incredibly skilled 19-year-old with range, and though he only shot 28.8 percent from deep last year, he projects to have NBA three-point range in a few years.

Ellenson is not a prolific defender, but he’s a mobile big with a polished low-post game and a fairly efficient midrange stroke. Plug him into Van Gundy’s system and he’ll be an idyllic fit once he’s able to carve out minutes for himself.

At NBA Summer League, Ellenson averaged 12.4 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. He only shot 31 percent from the floor and 23.1 percent from three-point range, but in his final game in Las Vegas, he finished up the tournament strong with a 22-11 double-double.

Midway through the first round, Ellenson was terrific value and there really wasn’t a better choice available given what we know about this year’s draft class so far.

At No. 49, the Pistons selected Syracuse’s Michael Gbinije, a point forward who can help an NBA team now and probably would’ve been selected much sooner if he weren’t so old. Unfortunately, Gbinije fell to the second round since he turned 24 in June, and he only played one Summer League game due to an ankle sprain.

In his senior season with the Orange, Gbinije averaged 17.5 points, 4.3 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game, shooting 46.1 percent from the floor and 39.1 percent from three-point range. As a well-rounded passer and ball handler who can play three different positions, Gbinije should be able to help Detroit’s bench right away.

Grade: A-

Next: Inking Ish

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