For the third straight year, the Pistons saw a player projected to be drafted much higher fall right into their laps. This year, Detroit pounced on the opportunity to select Andre Drummond with the No. 9 pick.

 

A seven-foot center out of Connecticut, Drummond is an athletic beast in the frontcourt who will immediately improve the Pistons' interior defense. He will likely push Greg Monroe to the power forward position. They should also work well with Detroit's backcourt of Brandon Knight and Rodney Stuckey.

 

Despite a difficult season with Connecticut, Drummond was projected by many as a Top 5 or 6 selection and was actually thought of as the second-best player throughout most of the season prior to the NCAA Tournament.

 

Jason Maxiell, who started at power forward last season and has opted into his contract to remain on the Pistons' roster, will likely return to a reserve role. It is imperative that Monroe start playing more power forward, even if that means Detroit opts to sign a veteran center to start in the middle until Drummond is ready.

 

In the second round, the Pistons took a couple of shooters in Khris Middleton of Texas A&M at No. 39 and Kim English of Missouri at No. 44. Both players will have to compete for a spot on the 15-man roster this upcoming season.