Windsor's Article about Donovan Mitchell and Luke Kennard is Stupid

***RANT ALERT****

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2018/05/02/detroit-pistons-donovan-mitchell-luke-kennard/574031002/

If I had a nickel for every Pistons fan melting down over the Pistons picking Kennard over Mitchell I'd be a rich man.

For context, lets review the draft grades from last year and understand what the conventional wisdom was back in 2017.

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Draft Grade for Pistons by the "Experts"

Grade: B-minus. The word: Kennard is one of the draft's best shooters and more versatile than he gets credit for being. He's also tough and could be a good defender. The real question here is what this means for the Pistons' future with starting shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Caldwell-Pope might be the Pistons' best player and is a natural shooting guard, like Kennard, but they both are big enough to play together on the wings. Still, Donovan Mitchell's positional versatility and athleticism might have been the better fit here, given the Pistons already have plenty of good shooters.

Reid Forgrave, CBSSports.com

Grade: A. The word: Smart player, smart pick. A great shooter but not just shooter - he's a scorer. Fits need.

More Pistons draft news:

Pistons could regret taking shooter Luke Kennard in 2017 NBA draft

Kennard scouting report: Meet the newest Detroit Piston

Video clips of new Pistons guard Luke Kennard

Adam Fromal, Bleacher Report

Grade: A-minus. The word: During his sophomore season for the Blue Devils, Kennard took 5.4 treys per game and connected on 43.8 percent of them. Those are elite numbers, and undergoing slight regression as he adjusts to the NBA's three-point arc will still leave him operating as one of the best shooters Detroit has rostered in quite some time.

Jonathan Tjarks, The Ringer

Grade: C for value, A for fit. The word: It’s hard to avoid comparing Kennard to J.J. Redick, another elite three-point shooter from Duke who was taken in the later lottery and had questions about his defensive upside when he came into the league. Redick is the best-case scenario for Kennard, but he changed his body in his first few seasons in the NBA and maximized every bit of his upside. It’s just as likely that Kennard becomes (former Piston) Jodie Meeks with less shot-creation ability.



Let's get to know Duke shooting guard Luke Kennard, whom the Detroit Pistons selected 12th in the 2017 NBA draft. Video by Marlowe Alter, Detroit Free Press Wochit

Jeremy Woo, Sports Illustrated

Grade: B-plus. The word: The Pistons were hoping someone would fall to No. 12 from the top group of prospects, but will be happy to bring in Kennard, who elevated his stock over the past month and is one of the draft’s top three-point shooters. Detroit needed floor-spacers, and gets a tough, intelligent player here who should be solid, if not spectacular. Based on what was available, Kennard was a strong choice.



Pistons president/coach Stan Van Gundy talked about the team's first round draft pick, Duke's Luke Kennard, on June 22, 2017, at the Palace. Video by Vince Ellis/DFP

Sam Vecenie, The Sporting News

Grade: A-minus. The word: The Pistons were among the worst shooting teams in the NBA last season, so it makes sense for them to add one of the best shooters in the draft in Kennard. He'll also help with their ball-handling/point guard issues, as he'll be able to occasionally slide over and run some offense. An excellent fit here.


Utah's draft grades from the 'Experts'

Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox: A

   The Jazz beefed up their backcourt depth in picking up Donovan Mitchell and Nigel Williams-Goss, and they also got a promising young prospect in Tony Bradley to spell Rudy Gobert. Ultimately, the Jazz filled some needs with solid players.

ESPN’s Chad Ford: A-

   [Mitchell’s] ability to defend both backcourt positions, run the point, shoot the 3 and get to the rim makes him very attractive to the Jazz, who see him as being a potential starter someday.

   Bradley was another guy they coveted for his length and rebounding ability. They needed a player who could eventually back up Rudy Gobert, and Bradley has enough talent to do that.

Fox Sport’s Andrew Lynch: A-

   The only knock against Mitchell is his size, as he's not quite big enough to play shooting guard and not quite the playmaker to be a full-time point guard.

   Other than that, though, the former Cardinal is an outstanding guard who gives Coach Quin Snyder and Utah options depending on how free agency goes with George Hill and Gordon Hayward.

USA Today’s Adi Joseph: A- (average grade of picks)

   [Mitchell] The Jazz and Denver Nuggets agreed to a trade to send No. 13 to Utah for No. 24 and power forward Trey Lyles, according to USA TODAY Sports' Jeff Zillgitt. Mitchell is one of the most versatile guards in this draft, and he has the potential to handle the point and shooting guard positions on both ends. He could be a surprise late-lottery star if he continues to improve his shooting and decision-making, and he and Dante Exum should be able to handle point guard duties if George Hill leaves the Jazz in free agency. Giving up on Lyles this early is surprising, but the pick was excellent.

   [Bradley] The Jazz and Lakers swapped the 28th and 30th picks, with the Lakers also getting No. 42, as The Vertical first reported. Bradley gives the Jazz a player with a lot of untapped potential and an already-developed elite skill. He's simply a great rebounder and a big body who was relegated to bench duty. There are a lot of good centers still on the board, but Bradley may have the clearest path to becoming a starter-caliber player.

   [Williams-Goss] The leader of the best team in Gonzaga history deserved to be drafted. The question is whether he can play point guard after being a college wing.

CBS Sports’ Reid Forgrave & Jack Mahoney: B+ (average grade of picks)

   [Mitchell] A-

   [Bradley] B+

   [Williams-Goss] B-

SB Nation’s Ricky O’Donnell: B+

   The Jazz parted with Trey Lyles to move to No. 13 for the opportunity to select Donovan Mitchell. Mitchell was one of my favorite players in this draft — an elite athlete with great length who can play either backcourt spot. This gives Utah insurance for both George Hill and Gordon Haywardas they enter unrestricted free agency. The Jazz also nabbed UNC freshman Tony Bradley at the end of the first round, who profiles as an elite offensive rebounder.

NESN’s Nicholas Goss: B+

   The Jazz traded up to No. 13 in a deal with the Nuggets to select Louisville shooting guard Donovan Mitchell. He averaged 15.6 points per game for the Cardinals last season, and his offensive talent, combined with his elite athleticism, could be quite useful for Utah if it loses veterans George Hill and/or Gordon Hayward in free agency. Mitchell is an NBA-ready defender, too.

SportingNews’s Jordan Greer: B-

   The Jazz sent Trey Lyles and the No. 24 pick to Denver in exchange for Mitchell at 13. It's understandable why Utah made the jump, especially when you consider starting point guard George Hill is a free agent this offseason. Bradley was a reach, and while he has shown flashes at a young age, we still haven't seen enough to know what he actually brings to the table.

Yahoo!’s Jordan Schultz: C-

   Donovan Mitchell’s meteoric rise up draft boards stemmed from a sensational combine performance, highlighted by a 40.5-inch vertical and otherworldly 6-foot-10 wingspan. The Jazz moved up 11 slots while trading Trey Lyles to get him. Mitchell is undoubtedly a hard-nosed kid who fits Utah’s DNA. My concern is with his somewhat meager production. He shot under 41 percent from the floor and just 35 percent from three. Plus, for a kid as explosive as he is, he only got to the line only three times a game. Unless he drastically improves in these areas, Mitchell projects as an energy role player more than anything else. The pick I liked more was North Carolina’s Tony Bradley at 29. He is a Tristan Thompson-type whose rebounding prowess should translate well.

Also here are some Non-Letter Grades:
The Ringer’s Haley O’Shaugnessy called the Jazz a draft winner:

   In trading Trey Lyles and the 24th pick for the rights to Donovan Mitchell at no. 13, the Jazz made the most of their first-round situation. The athletic combo guard could turn out to be the one that got away for the teams who selected just before the 13 slot — especially once they’re matched against the versatile defender. If Gordon Hayward does bolt in free agency this summer, Mitchell’s scoring ability will help mitigate the adjustment for the Jazz.

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Bottom line just admit none of you knew that Mitchell was a better pick back then. You had no clue that Mitchell would like the NBA star that he is now.

The Utah Jazz have Lindsey, he was willing to trade up for Mitchell. He got it. Just face the music that the Jazz have a really good front office and are better at spotting talent that other teams pass on.  

Last, you guys dumping so hard on Kennard. Once he matures a little bit I think he's going to be a decent player in the league. Probably evolve into a starter or good role player off the bench. That alone just shows how stupid Windsor's premise is. Kennard will finish with a much better NBA career than Darko but sadly for us he won't be better than Donovan Mitchell.

Ellenson, Johnson, Kennard.

I'm not impressed with SVG's drafting no matter whether we're talking Mitchell or not.

LooseGoose wrote:Ellenson, Johnson, Kennard.

I'm not impressed with SVG's drafting no matter whether we're talking Mitchell or not.

I agree, the front office stinks. I'm seeing in the playoffs the front office is so important. Celtics, Warriors and the Jazz have amazing GM's that have constructed really good rosters.

Jazz drafted Gobert 2013 27th pick. Lindsey also hired Quin Snyder. Very few NBA teams have a gm that good.

In my opinion the Pistons given their typical draft position and salary cap situation, should be taking max risk with every draft pick. That's why I think kennard was a dumb pick. I don't see the upside.

Using analytics Johnson is a replacement level player, literally 0.0 for his career. Ellensen for his career is worse than that -0.6, Kennard is +0.2. That sucks for 3 players taken in lottery and 1 in the top 10.

WhiteBoyHatcher wrote:In my opinion the Pistons given their typical draft position and salary cap situation, should be taking max risk with every draft pick. That's why I think kennard was a dumb pick. I don't see the upside.

Pretty solid opinion. I just think Kennard will mature into s pretty good player. A lot of players struggle out of college Denzel and Gary harris looked like much different players their second season.