Ron Holland is now a member of the Detroit Pistons.
New Pistons president Trajan Langdon, who turns 19 on July 7, was a top recruit out of high school, then played one season for the Netherlands. G League Ignite. Holland is an athletic wing who can play multiple positions for the Pistons, but questions linger about his shooting ability after struggling with efficiency in his first professional season.
Holland has plenty of potential to be a two-way game-changer, but the flaws in his game (shooting, turnovers) reflect some of the big problems that plagued the Pistons during the worst season in franchise history last year. last. His 6-foot-7 height with a 6-11 wingspan coupled with a 38-inch vertical leap are the tools of a prototypical NBA wing defender and he plays hard and consistent. However, most see the jump shot as the ceiling of his NBA ceiling.
ANALYSIS:Trajan Langdon’s confidence in Ron Holland with Pistons is also confidence in himself
Here’s the immediate reaction and notes from people who cover the NBA on the Pistons’ pick in Holland at five o’clock.
Pistons pundit Omari Sankofa II gave Langdon and the Pistons a B grade for Holland’s selection. The Pistons got a passable grade from Sankofa because going all-in on an ambiguous draft class has merit, but couldn’t quite go all the way to an A because of perceived value of Holland before the draft.
“New Pistons president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon is aiming for an upside, and his athleticism and defensive tools will help him in the long run, especially if his shooting develops,” Sankofa wrote. “In this draft, heading for the fences could pay off big.”
USA TODAY’s Ayrton Ostly gave the Pistons’ pick a B+, also praising the giant hack aimed at finding raw talent.
“Detroit doesn’t have a head coach, but they took one of the most versatile wing players in the draft, especially on defense,” Ostly wrote. “He can create a solid young core in Detroit alongside Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey.”
SB Nation’s Ricky O’Donnell is a big fan of the Dutch team. Despite the seemingly awkward fit with the Pistons’ already shot-averse roster, O’Donnell believes Holland is one of those guys in this class.
“Detroit drafted another super athletic wing who can’t shoot last year in Ausar Thompson,” O’Donnell wrote. “The Pistons are in dire need of cap space around Cade Cunningham, and they’re going the other way, although it’s worth noting that the team has a brand new front office led by Trajan Langdon. Still, I believes Holland is one of the best players in this area drafted for his athleticism, offense, transition scoring and defensive motor. Playing hard is a skill, and no one plays harder in this class than Holland. but the player is undeniably talented.
RON HOLLAND SAYS:I had no idea the Pistons were interested in me during the NBA draft
Yahoo! Holland was ranked as the 10th best player in the draft class and had some concerns about his offensive ability despite the bright future prospects.
“While he can be turnover-prone at times, his 6-foot-8 size and momentum 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 a little work and he sometimes clogs the lane with his attempts to get to the rim.”
No one likes it when a C appears on the report card. Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley wasn’t too impressed with Holland’s pick, described as a “stunner” at five, given the fit on a roster that lost at a historic rate last year.
“The Pistons need to expand their talent base, and this new front office just took one of the most intriguing draft picks in this class,” Buckley wrote. “That said, you wonder if Detroit could have swooped down and still landed Holland. You also wonder if he’ll do anything to address the Pistons’ crippling spacing issues on offense.”
Kyle Irving of the Sporting News said the Dutch selection was a “pleasant” surprise and praised the pick because of its talent and defensive abilities.
“Holland is a versatile, relentless defender who plays with boundless energy,” Irving wrote. “He’s a raw offensive product, but he still managed to average 20.6 points per game for the Ignite despite lacking a reliable jump shot or refined shot creation skills. He was once in the running to become No. 1 overall and I’m confident he’s a top-five talent in this class.
The Athletic did not award a letter grade, but opted for a straightforward analysis of Sam Vecenie and John Hollinger, both of whom are performing very well in Holland.
“His shooting is a problem; he’s ready to take them, but he only shot 24 percent and needs to clean up his mechanics,” Vecenie wrote. “However, he has a ton of basketball character, and it shows in the way he attacks the game. He is the ultimate free ball man. His energy is infectious. He plays incredibly hard and is competing all the time.”
“I love it! Holland was the #1 guy on my board, and I was absolutely baffled that he fell so far in the mock draft world when his production at G League Ignite was higher than many other recent lottery picks,” Hollinger wrote. “Holland may struggle to get out of the net as he works on his shooting and half-court reads, but the Pistons shouldn’t be in win-now mode and are in dire need of a second wing creator to help Cade Cunningham.”
The Ringer’s Danny Chau said Holland has the tools to contribute at the NBA level and will become good friends with new Pistons assistant and renowned shooting guru Fred Vinson, while comparing him to Cam Whitmore from last year’s class .
“He has the burst, speed and vertical explosion (and stopping time) to be a top defensive playmaker at the next level, but perhaps more importantly, he has the desire,” Chau wrote. “Holland can sometimes play a little ahead on his skis, but it would be hard to discount his effort and intensity. He and Vinson will get to know each other well this summer, but all the tools are there.”
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