The Fan Hub

With the 9th overall pick in the draft, the Detroit Pistons are likely looking to add another big man to work next to Greg Monroe, who emerged as the best player on the roster this season. They’re keyed in on a pair of North Carolina Tar Heels in John Henson and Tyler Zeller.

Tyler Zeller is ready to go. He’s a polished big man (7’0”, 250 lbs) with range that shoots 80% from the free throw line. Sports Illustrated ranked Zeller as the 3rd safest pick in the draft. A threat on both sides of the court, he averaged 16.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks as a senior while earning the ACC Player of the Year award. He might not turn into a perennial All-Star, but Zeller possesses the maturity and intangibles to make him a reliable contributor from the get-go.

John Henson is a slightly different option for Detroit. He fills more of a need for the Pistons in that he’s a defensive-minded big man, but Henson is also skinny (6’11”, 220). There’s simply no guarantee that he will put on the necessary weight to ensure he won’t be thrown around under the basket in the NBA. He did average 2.9 blocks and 9.9 rebounds per game in his senior year though, and shot 50% from the floor. If the Pistons interview Henson and think he has the work ethic to bulk up, the risk might be worth taking, as his role is exactly what they’re missing to complement Monroe.

Ultimately, neither Tar Heel would be a poor choice, but Detroit has to decide between a surefire contributor that doesn’t fill as much of a hole, or a bit of a risk that could optimistically fit perfectly into their system.