Ron Holland is now a member of the Detroit Pistons.
New Pistons president Trajan Langdon stepped up to some high standards in Holland, who will turn 19 on July 7, who was a top recruit out of high school and then played one season for the G League Ignite. Holland is an athletic wing player who can man down multiple spots for the Pistons, but questions remain about his shooting ability after struggling with efficiency in his first professional season.
Holland has plenty of potential as a two-way game-changer, but the flaws in his game (shooting, turnovers) mirror some of the bigger issues that plagued the Pistons last year, their worst season in franchise history. His size at 6 feet 7, with a wingspan of 6-11 and a vertical leap of 38 inches, he has the tools of a prototypical plus wing defender in the NBA and he consistently plays hard. However, most people view the jump shot as the limit of their NBA ceiling.
Analysis:Trajan Langdon’s belief in Ron Holland with the Pistons is also a belief in itself
Here are the immediate reactions and letter grades from people covering the NBA on Holland’s Pistons pick.
Pistone beat writer Omari Sankofa II to give Langdon and Pistone a B for the Holland selection. The Pistons earned a passing grade from Sankofa because of the eligibility to swing for the fences in an obscure draft class, but could not go to the A’s because of Holland’s projected value pre-draft.
Sankofa wrote, “New Pistons president of basketball operations Trojan Langdon is preparing to move forward, and his athleticism and defensive tools will help him in the long run, especially if his shot develops.” “In this draft, swinging for the fences can lead to big losses.”
USA TODAY’s Erton Ostley gave the Pistons’ pick a B+, while also praising the giant hack for finding talent in one area or another.
Ostley wrote, “Detroit doesn’t have a head coach, but they selected one of the more versatile wings in the draft, especially on defense.” “He can form a solid core of youth in Detroit with Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey.”
SB Nation’s Ricky O’Donnell is a big fan of the Holland selection. Despite the seemingly awkward fit with an already shooting-obsessed Pistons roster, O’Donnell believes Holland is one of the They People of this class.
O’Donnell wrote, “Detroit drafted another super athletic wing who can’t shoot last year in Aussie Thompson.” “The Pistons desperately need space around Cade Cunningham, and they’re going the other way, though it’s worth noting that the team has a new front office led by Trojan Langdon. Still, I believe Holland is one of the best players in the draft for his athleticism, slashing, transition scoring and defensive motor. Playing hard is a skill, and no one plays harder than Holland in this class, but the player is undeniable Is absolutely brilliant.”
Ron Holland says:I had no idea the Pistons were interested in me in the NBA Draft
Yahoo! Holland was ranked as the 10th best player in the class predraft and despite bright future prospects there were some concerns about his offensive ability.
“Although he can be turnover prone at times, his size at 6-foot-8 and his explosion off the dribble and in transition still give him room to grow in the NBA at just 18 years old,” Yahoo! wrote. “His movement off the ball needs some work and he blocks the lane at times with his attempts to get to the rim.”
Nobody likes to see a C on a report card. Zack Buckley of Bleacher Report was not overly impressed with the choice of Holland, described as a “stunner” at the five, considering the fit with a roster that lost at a historic rate last year.
Buckley wrote, “The Pistons need to expand their talent base, and this new front office has taken one of the more interesting fliers in this class.” “Having said that, you have to wonder if Detroit could have gone lower and still landed Holland. You also have to wonder if he would do something to fix the Pistons’ serious problems with offensive gaps. “
Kyle Irving of Sporting News said that Holland’s selection was a “pleasant” surprise and praised the selection because of his talent and defensive ability.
Irving wrote, “Holland is a versatile and tireless defender who plays with boundless energy.” “He’s a raw offensive product, but still managed to average 20.6 points per game for the Ignite despite lacking a reliable jump shot or polished shot-making skills. He was once in the running to be taken No. 1 overall And I’m firm in the belief he’s a top-five talent in this class.”
The Athletic did not provide any letter grades, but took analysis directly from Sam Veseni and John Hollinger, who both ranked above Holland.
Veseni wrote, “His shooting is an issue; he’s willing to have them, but he’s only made 24 percent and needs to clean up his mechanics.” “However, he has a ton of basketball character, and it shows in how he attacks the game. He’s the ultimate loose guy. His energy is contagious. He plays incredibly hard and competes all the time “
“I love it! Holland was the No. 1 guy on my board, and I was absolutely surprised he was falling so low in the mock draft world, even though his output in G League Ignite was better than many other recent lottery selections.” Hollinger wrote. “Holland may struggle out of the gate as he works on his shooting and half-court reads, but the Pistons are in a must-win situation right now and will need a tough second wing creator to help Cade Cunningham. needed.”
Danny Chow of The Ringer said Holland has the tools to contribute at the NBA level and that he would become good friends with new Pistons assistant and renowned shot guru Fred Vinson, while he compared him to Cam Whitmore of last year’s class. .
Chow wrote, “He has the explosiveness, speed and vertical burst (and hangtime) to become a high-level defensive player at the next level – but perhaps most importantly, he has the desire to do so.” “Holland may play a little ahead of his skis at times, but it will be difficult to pin down his effort and intensity. He and Vinson will get to know each other well this summer, but all the tools are there.”
Make “The Pistons Pulse” your favorite Detroit Pistons podcast, available wherever you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) or watch live/on demand on YouTube. Tune in Thursday morning for live reaction to the first round.
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