MVN - Most Valuable Network

Piston Draft Review: Deron Washington

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This is the final installment of a three-part look at each of Detroit’s three 2008 draft selections.

Call me crazy (or any of the other names you may already have picked out), but the more I look over the players Joe Dumars drafted, the less I am disappointed.

Other than some diehard Piston fans I have talked too, most were not only surprised but appalled that the team selected Indiana power-forward D.J. White and then immediately traded him away to Seattle (oops, Oklahoma City) for a pair of second round draft choices. While we can all agree that the draft can be a crap-shoot, if the dice come up, the Pistons really have some solid young pieces in place, including Deron Washington out of Virginia Tech.

No. 59: Deron Washington, 6-6, 202-pound guard/forward, Virginia Tech.

Washington has the potential to be a valuable asset off the bench and spot starter for the club. His scoring and rebounding improved each season at the college level and his athleticism is unquestioned, a must for a two guard and small forward. He is an explosive finisher around the rim and is a YouTube.com highlight favorite. His 6.5 rebounds per game speaks to his versatility and complete game and is impressive for a player his size.

The interesting question to me is where he begins the campaign in 2008-2009. Is he destined for the D-League or will his skill set allow for Washington to join the parent club and contribute right away. With Walter Sharpe and Trent Plaisted taken before him, will the bench support all of the new and current young Pistons? All have to potential to be strong scorers, rebounders, and defenders while providing support at multiple positions.

Regardless the answer, the jury is still out on what the expectations for the team will be this upcoming season. Dumars is looking to shake up the starting five with a trade off some magnitude. With free agency starting, the chips around the league should start to fall and availability and opportunity will begin to present itself and we can only sit back and wait to see what happens.

On one hand, its kind of exciting and at the same time, maddening because we all want to know which way the team will go. First-year coach Michael Curry could have a veteran laden starting unit and the expectations that group has produced over the last six seasons, or a young squad who may be said to be ready to get to the playoffs, but really buying time to gel and grow.

Either way, I would expect these three selections from this season’s draft to be part of the Piston future and I for one am excited to see their play in the upcoming Vegas league.

Piston Draft Review: Trent Plaisted

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This is the second of a three-part look at each of Detroit’s three 2008 draft selections.

Just as Walter Sharpe will get the chance to develop for Detroit, their second selection will should be right along side him. While Sharpe maybe a better defender, Trent Plaisted looks a little more polished on the offensive end and like Sharpe, brings good size and athleticism.

No. 46: Trent Plaisted, 6-9, 240-pound forward/center, Brigham Young University.

At 6-11 and 240 pounds, Plaisted shows excellent footwork and a versatility to the low post with both a nice shooting touch and passing ability. Being a left hander poses a new set of problems for opponents because there are so few in the league and may grow to be similar offensively to Zach Randolph. Where he may lack is facing up to the basket and appears to be more effective catching the ball with his back to the basket. He will need to increase his intensity and trust his skills and not be satisfied with just “being out there”.

Can he defend the five position? Is he strictly a power forward? He does show the quickness to be effective at either position and a willingness to work. His workouts appeared to lessen as they moved to the NBA Draft Camp, but he showed enough in prior appearances to have the eye of many teams, especially Joe Dumars and the Pistons.

While Sharpe is scheduled to start for Detroit’s Summer League team in Las Vegas July 11-18, Plaisted is going to get a long look from new head coach Michael Curry, who is making the trip to coach and get a first hand look at the new arrivals along with holdovers Rodney Stuckey, Arron Afflalo, Cheikh Samb, and Amir Johnson.

If all works according to plan, a front line rotation of Jason Maxiell, Amir Johnson, Walter Sharpe, and Plaisted is in the cards for the Pistons as they attempt to stack their hand with an athletic and versatile set of bigs.

Piston Draft Review: Walter Sharpe

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This is the first of a three-part look at each of Detroit’s three 2008 draft selections.

I have to be honest. I am still scratching my head, but have faith in Joe Dumars. He has his way of doing things and they have been effective thus far during his tenure at the helm of the Detroit Pistons.

The draft went from excitable to “huh?” in a heartbeat. The rumors had been that Detroit had their eye on D.J. White, a power presence down low from Indiana. Everything seemed to work according to plan as he was there at #29 and Dumars nabbed him. Sounded like just what the doctor ordered.

Many fans, including myself, we taken by surprise to see Dumars trade him so quickly to Seattle for two second round selections. Was money a factor? Could be, but with a rookie salary slot, it wouldn’t seem so. Dumars knows talented players and with second round picks, there are no guarantees and no guaranteed money. And with the D-League and a roster full of young players already, maybe this was the way to go. So who is who and new at The Palace? First up is Walter Sharpe.

No. 32: Walter Sharpe, 6-9, 245-pound forward, Alabama-Birmingham.

Many downgraded Sharpe due to a shady past and a “lazy” presence. Diagnosed with narcolepsy, a sleeping disorder that led to tardiness to team functions and academic shortcomings, Sharpe now takes medication that he says turned his life around.

“It’s definitely behind me,” Sharpe boasts. “My worst days are behind me and my best days ahead of me. Nobody thought I had narcolepsy. People thought I was just lazy and slept a lot.”

And while some have compared his game to Laker forward Lamar Odom, it is unknown at this time if Sharpe will make the club out of camp of spend some time at Fort Wayne of the D-League. He will have to prove that an arrest at a club with four other UAB players was a case of poor judgment, and not a character issue that will continue. Though he says he was sticking up for team mates, he knows he should have known better. He is working on being a better man, and player.

“I can’t completely blame it on narcolepsy,” Sharpe admits. “I’d just say that some things I could have done better.”

“I like to put the ball on the floor,” Sharpe points out. “I’m not scared to dribble or shoot it from anywhere. I like to pass the ball. I like to do everything on the court that you can do on offense. Maybe by looking at me or reading my stat line, you might not notice that, but in due time, you’ll see.”

Trusting Joe Dumars has been easy, and this draft will test that loyalty, but the summer league should be fun to watch as these players get their first tests.

Detroit Selects D.J. White, Trades him to Seattle for 32nd & 46th Picks

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Maybe the rumors were true.

The Detroit Pistons have been busy all the way up to the draft denying rumors that they had promised Indiana forward D.J. White to select him with their 29th pick in the first round were he available. He was, and now is, a member of the Pistons. What they didn’t say was they had a notion to deal him once they drafted him. The team will send White to Seattle for their 32nd and 46th picks.

The 6-9, 250 pound White averaged 17.4 points and his 10.3 rebounds which led the Big Ten. While he would have been a great fit for the Pistons, team president Joe Dumars has something else in mind. While all trades are contingent on league approval until after, the teams who make deals make the selections for their trading partners.

Stay tuned this weekend for a look at who the Pistons select, who now have the 32nd, 46th, and 59th selections in the 2008 draft. Dumars is looking to add youth to this team and it looks like he’s doing just that.