Twitter/Thon Maker
The latest word on the 2016 NBA Draft's most enigmatic player, Thon Maker has him falling to the Detroit Pistons.
Maker is arguably the high-risk, high-upside player in the draft. It's unlikely that he gets drafted by a team in the lottery unless it's one of the teams with multiple picks like the Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers or even the Denver Nuggets.
However, those teams have deep agendas and might use the draft picks as trade bait. There's still a team that would present the best fit for the lanky 7-1 forward with impressive handles and developing a three-point range.
In the latest mock draft by Chad Ford of ESPN Insider, he had the teams picking according to his suggestion-or who the teams would pick for him to give them a "Grade A." Thus, this particular mock draft is not based on his latest intel from league executives and other sources.
The top 2 remains the same for the Sixers and Lakers-still Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram respectively. His projection for Thon Maker is at 18th to the Detroit Pistons.
"The Pistons traded for Tobias Harris at the trade deadline to be the team's stretch-4. Marcus Morris is there, too, so that gives them the luxury to swing for the fences with Maker," Ford said. "They have time to develop him, and if he hits in a couple of years, they just landed the perfect frontcourt mate to Andre Drummond.
Taking calculated risks at this point in the draft is what really good teams do."
Team President and head coach Stan Van Gundy has a good reputation with regards to developing big men even one like Maker. The knack on Maker is that he might lack the strength and toughness to bang with NBA grade big men.
Dwight Howard is still the best example of SVG's handiwork. Granted that Howard was already strong as a horse coming out of high school but he was shorter than other centers of his time (Howard is 6'10" at most). SVG instilled the drive and the focus needed to mold him into a three-time Defensive Player of the Year.
Detroit Pistons' team site Piston Powered approved of this risky move, citing a recent example right in their division.
"Milwaukee isn't a great team, but selecting Giannis Antetokounmpo in the middle of the first round was a good risk to take. Clearly that calculated risk rewarded the Bucks who now have one of the most special talents in the NBA." Maker could be a taller version of the Greek Freak, but instead of playing point, he's more of a stretch five.
