One week before the NBA draft, information is dribbling in on who the Detroit Pistons have worked out and who they have not, at least thus far.
Point guards Tyrese Haliburton (Iowa State) and R.J. Hampton (New Zealand) and small forward Aaron Nesmith (Vanderbilt) confirmed Wednesday they have worked out for the Pistons. Obi Toppin (Dayton), Isaac Okoro (Auburn) and Anthony Edwards (Georgia) have not.
The Pistons have the seventh pick, but general manager Troy Weaver said last week he is open to trading up or moving down.
Point guard is the Pistons' biggest need and the 6-5 Haliburton believes he stacks up well against the other top prospects at his position, like LaMelo Ball, Killian Hayes, Kira Lewis, Cole Anthony and Hampton.
“I’m really a student of the game. I’m obsessed with it,” Haliburton said. "I spend a lot of time watching film, in the gym, just doing something that’s basketball-related.
“I truly feel I’m the best facilitator in this draft, the best shooter in this draft and one of the highest basketball IQs. I have that confidence in myself. I feel like that’s what separates me.”
Haliburton, speaking on a media Zoom call, said he also has worked out for Minnesota (No. 1 pick), Golden State (No. 2) and Chicago (No. 4). Interest from the Timberwolves and Warriors might indicate those teams' desire to move down in the draft, as has been rumored, since Haliburton is not projected to be taken in the top three.
Haliburton is working out three times a day in Las Vegas and watching film. He has worked out with current and former NBA players Troy Brown, Kyle O’Quinn, Amir Johnson and Rashad McCants and received advice from Gilbert Arenas.
“Having constant conversations, watching film, doing everything I can to work on little things and fine-tune everything as we get closer,” he said. “Gotten a lot of great words of wisdom from guys who have been successful.”
Haliburton averaged 15.2 points, shooting 42 percent from 3-point range, and 6.5 assists in 22 games as a sophomore for the Cyclones. His season ended on Feb. 8 when he fractured his non-shooting wrist.
“My injury was a little bit of a blessing in disguise, being able to step away from the game for an extended period of time and looking at what I need to work on --tightening my handle, shots off the dribble, finishing at the rim,” Haliburton said. “See where there are holes in my game that I can fix.”
Aaron Nesmith’s second college season was limited to 14 games due to injuries, but he showed tremendous improvement, averaging 23 points and hitting 52 percent of his 3-pointers. He is regarded as one of the best pure shooters in the draft, another area of need for the Pistons.
He described his strengths as “My ability to shoot the 3-ball, my ability on the defensive end to guard one through four and play with high-energy, high-effort.”
The 6-6 Nesmith said he grew a lot under first-year coach Jerry Stackhouse, the former Pistons guard.
“Just the professionalism I learned, especially from Coach Stackhouse, the approach he instilled into the game, the accountability,” Nesmith said. “He made sure I held myself to the standard that he held me to. Just eat, breathe, sleep basketball 24/7, have that mindset to get better one percent each day.”
The 6-5 Hampton played 15 games for the New Zealand Breakers of the Australian-based National Basketball League. Playing against pros has him ahead of the curve, he believes.
“I feel confident,” Hampton said. “I expect to get on the floor as fast as possible and make an immediate impact in the coming years. I want to be a guy that is looked upon, one of the players everybody counts on to get us wins.”
Asked what parts of his game will translate to the NBA, Hampton said, “My speed, my athleticism, being able to make plays for my teammates, for myself.”
He has also worked out for Cleveland (No. 5 pick), Washington (No. 9), Boston (No. 14), Orlando (No. 15) and Denver (No. 22).
Given the chance to do it all over again, Hampton said he still would forgo college for the NBL.
“I think I grew as a player more than I would have grown in college and I think my immediate impact would be a lot faster than some other guys,” he said. “I definitely think if someone asked me if they should play abroad or in college, I would tell them if you’re willing to lose some of the hype but get more work, it’s definitely (an advantage).”
More: Top facilitator Tyrese Haliburton could be a fit for Pistons at No. 7