While things have changed in the NBA since January, one thing has remained the same. The Detroit Pistons should take Stanley Johnson, assuming he's available. While there may be better players on the board, even some that fill the teams' small forward need like Justise Winslow, Stanley Johnson is what the Pistons need.

Johnson is known for his work ethic, including going on record as saying that he wants to earn a starting job; wherever he goes he doesn't want it given to him. That's about as big a difference as you can get between any player in the NBA, and Josh Smith, who it seems felt the opposite.

He is also as defensive minded player. He has better defensive skills than almost any other player in the draft, outside of big men, and surpasses Winslow in the defensive department. This is crucial to the success of a young team, and also shows his willingness to play team basketball, not be egotistical like Josh Smith.

Johnson might not be the best rookie in the draft, but there's a chance he could be the best pro player in this draft. His upside is high, and not Darko Milicic high, James Harden high. In fact, he actually had better offensive numbers than Harden did in school, while putting up defensive numbers not many at the three can match. 

In addition to all the skills he brings on the court, he is a good person to have at practice and in the locker room. He is a team player, maybe not a LeBron James type of team player, but he will be a coach's and teammates’ favorite for his work ethic while being someone who works well with the team.

He is the opposite in all ways of Josh Smith. Instead of shooting bad threes, he will play Stan Van Gundy's drive and kick system well. Instead of trying to find a way to get rid of him all season, we will try and find more ways to use him. Instead of being the mocking post for being bad, he will be the mocking post for not winning, even with a good performance.

Reports suggest that he even canceled a workout with the ninth-pick Charlotte Hornets in hopes that Stan Van Gundy would call his name tomorrow night. Now, go back to 2003 for a minute, and look at how the draft played out. The Pistons were the only team who didn't get a multi All-Star player in the top five. Taking Mario Hezonja over Johnson would be the next Darko Milicic over Carmelo Anthony move that could hinder the Pistons' rebirth another 10 years. Selecting Stanley Johnson might be the Carmelo Anthony type superstar that this team has lacked since the Chauncey Billups trade to Denver, the same team that took Carmelo Anthony after the Pistons, and the same team picking one slot above the Pistons, seventh, tomorrow night.