Pistons Mailbag - Thursday, May 26, 2011 - Page 3

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Langlois: I’m not sure there is anything approaching unanimity of agreement that Burks has a higher ceiling than Thompson, Tiba. As a scorer, sure. As an impact player? If Thompson becomes a double-digit rebounder and a first-rate defensive force, that’s pretty good return on investment. If Tristan Thompson becomes Ben Wallace and Alec Burks becomes Michael Redd, which one would you take?

Langlois: I interpreted his comments on the night of the lottery as an acknowledgment of the strength of the draft and the fact the Pistons got the No. 8 pick. By most accounts, the value in that range will be in big men. I’ve written frequently that small forward is likely to be an area the Pistons will hope to address in the draft, perhaps with their pick at 33. It’s possible Leonard works his way into the discussion at 8. I’m not sure they would view Vesely, who reportedly doesn’t yet have a consistent jump shot, as a small forward. – though I certainly believe Vesely is a player they will strongly consider with their pick if he’s still available. He can probably hold his own defensively at small forward, but he’s a long and athletic 6-foot-11 – I think most teams ultimately project him as a power forward.

Langlois: If the Pistons target Singleton, Travis, then I would expect they would at least explore the possibility of trading down a few spots to see if they can pick up another asset in the process. Eight is probably higher than Singleton should be expected to go, though he’s the type of athlete that could generate a lot of buzz and see his stock – or his perceived stock, at least – rise enough in the coming weeks that other teams will start to wonder what they’ve missed and go back to check out his Florida State tapes again. Singleton can be breathtaking – the production just didn’t match those breathtaking moments in college. But he wouldn’t be the first to blossom a little later and blow up as an NBA player.

Langlois: You’ve touched on three guys who we’ll discuss in the 15-part draft series we’re putting together now for Pistons.com. Johnson and Leuer are players we’ll explore as options for the pick at 33, though Leuer has perhaps pushed himself into the late first round with his showing at the Chicago draft combine. Parsons is a possibility for the pick at 52, though I wouldn’t rule out him rising out of range of that pick, as well, over the next month. Parsons has great size and versatility and seems like a guy who’s going to stick around in the NBA for a lot of years as a role player. I could see some scouts comparing Parsons to Kyle Singler or Gerald Honeycutt, other rangy wings in this draft projected to go much higher, and believing Parsons could have a similar chance to succeed.