Detroit Pistons: 2018 NBA Draft grades
By KC Whitten
No. 38: Khyri Thomas, Creighton
As mentioned earlier, the Pistons are in win-now mode, so trading away two future second round picks to acquire the rights to Khyri Thomas was an easy decision.
Thomas started as a true freshmen at Creighton, and showed substantial improvement over his sophomore and junior seasons. In his junior year, Thomas averaged 15.1 points along with 4.4 rebounds per game.
At 6’3″, Thomas doesn’t have great size for a shooting guard. However, he possesses a 6’10” wingspan, and is an aggressive defender. At Creighton, Thomas was a two-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year and a Second Team All Big East selection.
My steal of the draft? Khyri Thomas of Creighton. Doesn't seem like he's grabbing the attention he deserves. A 2x BIG EAST DPOY (6'3" with a 6'10" wingspan - can guard just about any player on the floor), who shot 64% from the floor and 41.1% from three.
— Cayleigh Griffin (@cayleighgriffin) June 21, 2018
Although Thomas posted good offensive numbers in the NCAA, he is limited on that end. Besides possessing the ability to drive to the rim, Thomas lacks the ability to create his own shot on the perimeter. He also isn’t the guard that’s going to create offense for his teammates.
That being said, I feel like Khyri Thomas was overlooked in the draft. Losing two second round picks to acquire a potential elite NBA defender is well worth the risk.
Grade: B+