The Pistons just took Killian Hayes last year and they have a hole to fill at SG

One of the main reasons why it is plausible to believe that the Pistons will consider drafting Jalen Green over Cade Cunningham is because of the “logjam” they have in their backcourt. Obviously Cunningham would immediately be the #1 point guard on this team if they drafted him 1st overall, but Detroit did just draft Killian Hayes last year. 

Hayes was selected with the 7th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft and was drafted by the Pistons with the intent that could be their point guard of the future. Overall, he had a solid rookie season seeing that he was injured for most of it too, averaging 6.8 points, 2.7 rebounds, 5.3 assist and shot 35.3% from the floor. 

If the Pistons were to take Cade Cunningham, it would be interesting to see what they would do not only with Killian Hayes, but Cory Joseph as well, who they traded for at the trade deadline this year. Cunningham is viewed as the best talent available in this draft class, but Jalen Green fills an immediate need at a high-level for the Pistons. 

This is a team that has a bunch of young players in Saddiq Bey, Killian Hayes and Isaiah Stewart, as well as an experienced leader in Jerami Grant, but they really do not have anyone they can rely on at the shooting guard position. Josh Jackson had a strong showing this year, but overall, adding Jalen Green gives the Pistons a crazy athletic shooting guard who can become an All-Star within his first four years in the league. 

READ MORE: NBA Mock Draft 3.0: Detroit Pistons win Cade Cunningham sweepstakes

This #1 overall pick for the Pistons will come down to taking either the best player in the draft, which is Cade Cunningham, or taking one of the other best players in the draft that fills an immediate need at shooting guard, which is Jalen Green.