Debating whether Jalen Duren has earned a contract extension with Pistons
Omari and Bryce break down Jalen Duren’s 2024-25 season and his potential contract extension. Listen and subscribe to “The Pistons Pulse” podcast.
- The Detroit Pistons hold the 37th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
- The Pistons traded their first and second-round picks but reacquired a second-round pick from the Toronto Raptors.
- The 2025 NBA Draft is scheduled for June 25.
The Detroit Pistons may not be big players in the 2025 NBA Draft, but they still have one pick to work with.
The Pistons capped off a surprising regular-season run with a frustrating first-round playoff exit at the hands of the New York Knicks, who are now set to face the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals.
After trading away their first and second-round picks (but later getting back a second-round pick from the Toronto Raptors), the Pistons’ lone pick in the draft is No. 37 overall.
It’s a low enough pick that some mock drafts don’t even go that far when making a prediction. But we’ve rounded up all those that have, with recent predictions on who the Pistons might take with their sole 2025 draft pick.
ESPN: PG Tahaad Pettiford, Auburn
The freshman guard was the third-leading scorer (11.6 points per game) for a top-seeded Auburn Tigers team that bowed out in the Final Four to the eventual champion Florida Gators. Along the way, he scored 20 points in a 78-65 Sweet Sixteen win over Michigan and another 10 in a 70-64 win over Michigan State in the Elite Eight.
In other words, Detroit-area basketball fans may already be familiar with his game.
The Ringer notes that Pettiford is a creative ballhandler that can score inside as well as outside, but might struggle to adjust to the league with his relatively small 6-foot-1, 175-pound frame.
Bleacher Report has the Pistons travelling overseas for their second-round pick, selecting the 21-year-old small forward Alex Toohey from the NBL’s Sydney Kings.
The 6-foot-9 Toohey averaged 10.6 points per game last season in his second professional year and could give Detroit some length on the perimeter. Bleacher Report calls him “one of the top options” among second-round prospects.
The four-year guard out of Marquette was a consensus second-team All-American in his senior season, averaging 19.2 points and 5.9 assists per game and leading the Golden Eagles to the NCAA tournament in back-to-back-to-back seasons.
Yahoo’s Kevin O’Connor calls Jones a “savvy at-rim finisher,” but also has some concerns about Jones’ athleticism and shooting percentages, both on the floor and at the free-throw line.
Yahoo: G Milos Uzan, Houston
Speaking of O’Connor, he thinks the Pistons will select Houston’s transfer guard Uzan, writing:
“Adding another creator next to Cade Cunningham would make sense, especially someone like Uzan, who has long been a high-IQ combo guard who knits teams together with his playmaking skills and defensive hustle.”
Uzan has declared for the draft but still has college eligibility, which means he could withdraw his name from draft consideration by May 28.
NBA Draft Room: PF Bogoljub Marković, Serbia
Marković isn’t the biggest international name in this year’s draft, but according to NBA Draft Room, he is the best draft prospect out of Serbia, who finished with the bronze medal at the 2024 Olympics.
Draft Room calls Marković, “a skilled big who can shoot the rock and handle the ball but needs to develop his strength.”
The 2025 NBA Draft will take place on Wednesday, June 25, at 8 p.m. ET.
You can reach Christian at [email protected].
#Detroit #Pistons #draft #mock #draft #experts
