The Detroit Pistons have finally made a draft selection that fans will actually like. Going back many years, with the only exception being Andre Drummond, the Pistons have made disappointing draft pick after disappointing draft pick, with the worst of it all being Darko Milicic in the 2003 Draft. The Stanley Johnson pick actually has fans excited, and jumping back onto the Pistons bandwagon for the first time since their last playoff appearance seven long years ago.
Stanley Johnson, a Small Forward from Arizona is only 19, and is 6'7" and weighs 242 pounds with a seven foot wingspan. He is 2 pounds heavier and 2 inches shorter than being the same height/weight as Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder, and will be playing the same position in Detroit next season and beyond.
Johnson is known for his defense, and is one of the better defenders at a players listed position in the draft. While he might not be able to shut down LeBron James next year, he will be a solid defender night in and night out, ready to contribute on day one. It's been noted he needs work on his jump shot, shooting only 45% field goals, including a 37% three point clip at Arizona as a Freshman last season. He averaged 13.8 points per game, and 6.5 rebounds per game with a 1.7 assists per game average. This works out to 19.5 points per 40, 9 rebounds per 40 and 2.5 assists per 40 with a 2 steals per 40 added to a half block per 40 average. According to Detroit Bad Boys on SB Nation, Johnson scored at a higher rate than Mario Hezonja who went fifth, Justise Winslow who fell to ten after failing Detroit's workout, as well as other first rounders Kelly Oubre and Sam Decker of Kansas and Wisconsin respectively.
Johnson is also a high character guy. He said from the very beginning that he wanted to be a Piston, and unlike Justise Winslow who many fans preferred at eight, he actually did well in his workout at Detroit. Winslow was rumored as not wanting to be a Piston, while Johnson was a fan the whole draft process.
He is someone who wants to, and has the potential to, succeed, and even though he may not be as good as D'Angelo Russell (who went to the Lakers) during the Summer League, but come day one in the regular season, he will be a huge improvement over Josh Smith, Kyle Singler, Caron Butler and any other starting forward the Pistons have had the last few seasons. He has an excellent mentor in Tayshaun Prince to guide him, as well as a potential free agent acquisition or trade acquisition.
The best part about this pick for the Pistons is his energy. He is a hard worker, who will bring excitement and energy to a Pistons team that looked bored and lazy before Reggie Jackson was acquired. He is a fun, confident person, and someone who will be an entertaining player that will draw crowds back to the Palace on game nights. He will quickly be a fan favorite, and should be a solid contributor for many years to come for the Pistons. While he may not make them playoff contenders by himself next season, two or three years down the road with a few games under his belt could get the Pistons out of their long playoff drought, and bring them back to relevance for the first time since before the Chauncey Billups trade.