When the NBA’s incoming rookie class got together last month for rookie orientation, they were polled about a number of things — including which of them would be named the Rookie of the Year.
The winner was Stanley Johnson, who went with the No. 8 overall pick to the Detroit Pistons.
What are the Pistons getting from the PAC-10 Player of the Year out of Arizona who won four consecutive state titles at Mater Dei H.S. in California before doing his one-and-done? How about a latter-day version of Ron Artest, without the craziness? Scouts and pro personnel folks believe Johnson has perhaps the most NBA-ready body of any of the incoming pros, and Johnson’s Rookie of the Year campaign will be helped by the fact that he should be able to move into the starting lineup fairly quickly — maybe even by Day One.
What else to the Pistons have to look forward to after a summer overhaul that netted them Marcus Morris, Ersan Ilyasova, Steve Blake, Aron Baynes, Danny Granger … and Arn Tellem? What are the chances that one day they’ll be anchoring a new downtown arena in The D? How far have they come since the Joe Dumars era ended?
I discussed all things Pistons-related, along with the NBA’s new economics, with Jake Chapman of the Pistons flagship station, 105.1 WMGC on Thursday. We hot on a ton of topics. Hope you enjoy.
Chris Sheridan is publisher and editor-in-chief of SheridanHoops.com. Follow him on Twitter.