NBA Combine Day One Recap: Pistons Active with First and Second Round Prospects

The 2017 NBA Combine began yesterday in Chicago, where 67 NBA prospects worked out in front of professional scouts, coaches, and general managers. Players participated in measurement testing, strength and agility drills, spot-up shooting, and non-stationary shooting drills. Some players also participated in five-on-five live action games.

Coach and President of Basketball Operations Stan Van Gundy and General Manager of the Pistons Jeff Bower were in attendance for the first day of the Combine.

The Pistons spoke with numerous players at the Combine, both first and second round talent. Detroit does not currently own a second-round pick but is presumably interviewing and working out second round talent to decide if they should try to acquire a pick in the second round. This also gives them an opportunity to scout potential Summer League talent.

Here is all the news reported on the Pistons front from the Combine Yesterday.

Interviewed

Moritz Wagner- PF/C

Wagner spent two seasons at Michigan before declaring for the NBA Draft this year. He has yet to sign an agent, however, meaning he could return to college if he decides to. The 6'10 combo-big averaged 12.1 points on 39.7 percent shooting from deep and 4.2 rebounds per game last season as a Wolverine. Yesterday at the Combine he scored 13 points on 5-11 shooting and grabbed four rebounds in Game 1.

Wagner said he will also workout for Detroit.

Tony Bradley- PF/C Bradley is testing the draft waters after his freshman year at North Carolina. Like Wagner, he has not hired an agent yet. In his only season at North Carolina, Bradley averaged 7.1 points and 5.1 rebounds in just over 14 minutes per game. He measured at 6'10.75" in shoes at the Combine yesterday.

Frank Mason would provide immediate backup point guard depth for any team. Image: Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Frank Mason- PG

For some reason, Mason has been flying under the radar according to most NBA projections. DraftExpress mocks him to go 59th in the draft. Mason won the Wooden Award in his senior season at Kansas, where he averaged 20.9 points and 5.2 assists per game. He finished with eight points and four assists in 22 minutes of action yesterday at the Combine.

Will Interview

Tyler Dorsey- SG

Projected to go undrafted in the latest Draft Express Mock Draft, Dorsey is attempting to work his way onto NBA team's big boards. Measuring at 6'4.5" yesterday, he is a bit undersized for a two-guard, but that did not stop him from being a scoring threat for Oregon last season. In his second season with the Ducks last year, Dorsey averaged 14.6 points on 42.3 percent shooting from the three-point line. He hired an agent, meaning he cannot return to Oregon after just two seasons.

Justin Jackson- SF

At the Combine yesterday, Jackson said he "thinks" he has an interview with the Pistons. The 6'8.25" junior played his college ball at North Carolina, where he averaged 18.3 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. He won the ACC Player of the Year award for his outstanding season. Jackson has floated between the early teens to late teens in most mock drafts. DraftExpress mocked him to go 15th in their latest mock draft.

John Collins- PF

After an extremely impressive sophomore year at Wake Forest, Joh Collins decided to enter the NBA Draft with an agent. The 6'9.5" power forward averaged 19.2 points and 9.8 rebounds per game last season. Collins is slim for a power forward, weighing in at just 225.2 pounds yesterday, but he is crafty inside and possesses good strength. He will need to bulk up to play a serious role in the NBA, but Collins is a prospect that has continuously intrigued teams drafting at the back end of the lottery. DraftExpress has him going 16th in their post measurements mock draft.

Wake Forest foward John Collins has slowly climbed up draft boards. Image: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Donovan Mitchell- SG/PG

NBA Scouts are quickly falling in love with Donovan Mitchell. While he is an undersized for his natural position, shooting guard, Mitchell has found a way to not only be a factor on offense but be an effective defender as well. Mitchell measured at just 6'3" yesterday. He averaged 15.6 points and 4.9 rebounds per game last year at Lousiville. He has a raw but improving shooting stroke, as he shot just 35 percent from three last season. Draft Express mocks him 12th in their latest mock, which is right where the Pistons would be drafting if they do not go up or down in the draft lottery.

Justin Patton- C

Patton is very raw but nonetheless is a very interesting prospect. Spending just one season at Creighton, Patton showed he has potential on both sides of the ball. He averaged 12.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per game last season. He measured in at 6'11.25" yesterday.

Featured image: Jamie Squire/Getty Images