2018 NBA Draft: 5 potential second round steals
By Connor Harr
3. Khyri Thomas, SG — Detroit Pistons (No. 38)
Khyri Thomas is a 6’3″ wing out of Creighton who also came onto the NBA prospect scene almost out of nowhere this season. Despite his lack of size for the position, Thomas has a long 6’10” wingspan and a very strong frame. This was an interesting selection by the Detroit Pistons, especially since they selected Bruce Brown four picks after Thomas.
Detriot played to its strengths with this selection. As a team that was in the top 10 in the NBA this season in both opposing points per game and their own 3-point shooting, they went after one of the better 3-and-D prospects in the class. The question will be where does Thomas fit in on the roster. The Pistons have a swarm of guards and wings under contract for next season, which makes me think they will likely groom Khyri for serious minutes in his second year.
Thomas is extremely quick on the perimeter and is a physical point of attack defender. He is also one of the best spot-up catch-and-shooters in the entire class. Thomas gets great lift on his jump shot and has a projectable form. While he does need to improve as a ball-handler, look for Thomas to be a valuable member of the Pistons bench within the next two years, maybe eventually becoming an option to defend guards better than any of their starting options.