NBA Draft 2020: Mock Draft 7.0 (Who Teams Should Pick)

The Pistons need a franchise cornerstone — someone they can construct an entire rebuild around. Those players aren’t always available at No. 7, but Cole Anthony gives them the best chance at that type of player. A preseason favorite to go No. 1, Anthony has both talent and pedigree. It’s fair to take his college numbers with a grain of salt.

Anthony is an explosive, dynamic athlete at 6-foot-3. He has a twitchy handle, a smooth pull-up jumper, and plenty of juice off the dribble. He struggled to finish at the rim last season, a definite concern, but it’s fair to equate that at least partially to lingering lower body injuries.

If he returns a clean bill of health, it shouldn’t be difficult for a team like Detroit to look at Anthony’s high school tape and come away with more optimism. Even amid significant struggles at UNC, the flashes were still there. He can score the basketball, and is the type of high-volume scorer to carry Detroit’s talent-deprived group.