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Detroit Pistons Draft Cole Aldrich With 7th Pick In SB Nation NBA Mock Draft

More photos » Charlie Neibergall - AP

Kansas's Cole Aldrich shows off the blue-collar smile that made him the Detroit Pistons seventh overall pick in the 2010 SB Nation NBA mock draft.

The 2010 SB Nation NBA Mock Draft is still underway, with each SB Nation blogger making selections for their respective teams.  Mike Payne, editor at SB Nation's Detroit Pistons blog Detroit Bad Boys, checks in to make the seventh overall selection in this year's mock.

With the seventh overall pick in the 2010 SB Nation NBA Mock Draft, the Detroit Pistons have selected Cole Aldrich, Center, Kansas Jayhawks.

Payne explains: The guy has the talent, size, character and determination to be a solid role player for many years to come. While he won't individually turn this team around, he could very well be the sizeable defensive stopper this team needs. If Detroit can subsequently swing Prince and others for a scoring power forward, Detroit would be a big step toward the playoffs once again.

There was a time when a specialist in rebounding, defense and shot-blocking would have inspired more than yawns from most GMs in the league (except for Hasheem Thabust). A 6'9" power forward from Virginia Union fit that bill, and not only did he fall in draft charts-- he ended up undrafted by NBA GMs. Now that is where the comparison ends, as Pistons fans cannot expect the next Ben Wallace out of Cole Aldrich. What can they expect?

Defense. Rebounding. Shot-blocking. The kind of paint-focused player that gives every other player on his team a better shot from the field. He'll give his man problems, and he'll make the paint deadly territory for driving guards. Is he going to score 20 points a game, is he going to even impact your team's offense in a productive way?

No. He's a specialist. His ceiling is pretty much hit his sophomore year. But 10/10 and 2 ain't nothing to cough about, especially on a rookie contract.

Detroit has so many un-certain variables on its roster that it can net either a 40 win season or a 20. Drafting Aldrich would be picking a sure thing. You're getting a player who can contribute right away, who will never be the Kevin Garnett that he has dreamed of being, but he will get you efficient production moreso than any other player on this roster. Basically, in drafting Aldrich, you're getting a super-efficient, handle-his-own center who will spend every second he has getting better. You're guaranteeing that for the next 5 years, your center position is entirely taken care of, and you can focus on upgrades from 1 through 4. He won't be pretty, he may not be an all star, but he'll fight to prove himself in the paint against the league's best.

DeMarcus Cousins is the prize, and if he falls to us, a playoff berth will be ours to lose. But Cole Aldrich is a lock to run the blue collar bad-assery our team has needed since Ben left in '05. Don't expect highlight reels, all star nominations or turn-around performances out of Aldrich, expect hard-nosed defense, hard work and a game-in-game-out commitment to the things this team truly needs. Defense, rebounding, and shot-blocking.

Star-divide

Ridiculous Upside reacts: Aldrich fits a need and fits, as Payne said, with the Pistons profile.  Is it a sexy pick? No, not at all.  Is it a Pistons pick? Definitely.

Kansas blog weighs in: Rock Chalk Talk's Aldrich season review began with the following:

Cole Aldrich will have his way and dominate the opposition with thunderous dunks and an NBA-ready game.

Keyword (phrase?): NBA-ready. Sounds good to me.

Ridiculous Upside's Top 5 remaining prospects: 1 - Al-Farouq Aminu, F, Wake Forest. 2 - Patrick Patterson PF, Kentucky. 3 - Luke Babbitt, F, Nevada. 4 - Ekpe Udoh, PF/C, Baylor. 5 - Xavier Henry, SG, Kansas.

Sound off, SB Nation! What say you of the Aldrich-to-Detroit pick?

And please, remember to check out Detroit Bad Boys for everything you need to know about the Pistons.

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Grade the Pistons selection of Cole Aldrich at seventh overall

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Payne/Pistons fans, you give good reasons for picking Aldrich, but why should the Pistons pick him over Aminu? You didn’t make the playoffs and seem to be in a big rebuilding stage so why not BPA?

by BlaseE on Jun 18, 2025 11:25 AM EDT reply actions  

Austin Daye, DaJuan Summers, Jonas Jerebko. I love BPA, but they don’t have a center. Like they don’t have one. That’s gotta play a bit of a role. Especially when it’s basically a guarantee Aldrich is a solid 5 for the next few years on the cheap.

by TheArtistFormerlyKnownAsMichaelBourn on Jun 18, 2025 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions  

Tayshaun Prince
Jonas Jerebko
Austin Daye
DeJuan Summers

Four players currently under contract for the Pistons who all play SF.

by brgulker on Jun 18, 2025 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions  

That’s quite similar to what I said.

by TheArtistFormerlyKnownAsMichaelBourn on Jun 18, 2025 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions  

You didn't mentionn Tayshaun

Nor mention what position they play.

I write about basketball players with Ridiculous Upside. I know you'll love it.

by Scott Schroeder on Jun 18, 2025 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions  

Tayshaun doesn’t matter because he’s older and not part of a contending future. And I figured he knew they were all 6’8-6’10 small forwards.

by TheArtistFormerlyKnownAsMichaelBourn on Jun 18, 2025 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions  

Assumptions make an ass out of you and me.
Semi-related: I live on Assumption Drive.

I write about basketball players with Ridiculous Upside. I know you'll love it.

by Scott Schroeder on Jun 18, 2025 6:02 PM EDT up reply actions  

Well, Dumars was recently on record saying he has no intention of moving Tayshaun. Could be playing hardball, could be telling the truth. He’s done stupider things lately, so it’s hard to know for sure.

But as the roster currently stands, he’s on it, along with 3 other SFs. Hard to see why we’d want another one.

by brgulker on Jun 19, 2025 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions  

a guy the pistons want to get rid of and 3 rookies….

i know drafting another rookie might not help the depth at the position, but that is hardly stable looking to me

I get you have a big need at the 5 though.

by BlaseE on Jun 18, 2025 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions  

I didn’t say it was stable. It’s not, although I think JJ is starting caliber material.

But the question cuts both ways — how does Aminu make the SF position any more stable? And then juxtapose that question with, how does drafting Aldrich make the C position more stable?

The answer’s obvious. The Pistons should draft a big, and Aldrich is likely the best one available at #7. Aminu’s not such a great prospect that it makes sense to draft “talent before need.”

by brgulker on Jun 18, 2025 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions  

cousins may fall to us after his pot bust, so who knows? otherwise i guess aldrich is solid enough.

by dandresden on Jun 18, 2025 4:37 PM EDT up reply actions  

Excellent point. Have you guys heard about that?

by brgulker on Jun 18, 2025 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions  

Ummm

No?

I write about basketball players with Ridiculous Upside. I know you'll love it.

by Scott Schroeder on Jun 18, 2025 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions  

it's totally lame.

Have I mentioned that my detective skills are excellent? : )

In perusing a bit I found this over on the Pistons blog. Please tell me all Pistons fans aren’t childish, foolish assholes, ‘cause I’m really wondering right about now? Geez.

by BigSkyCat on Jun 18, 2025 6:37 PM EDT up reply actions  

Please tell me all Pistons fans aren’t childish, foolish assholes

Yep. Which still makes us head-and-shoulders above Lakers fans.

Uh, me, new?

by Mike Payne on Jun 18, 2025 6:42 PM EDT up reply actions  

Mmmm,

yummy, those sour grapes sure do taste good! ; )

Really though, sorry if I offended the sensibilities of all Pistons fans, I guess I should have just questioned that one person in particular. But, then you went ahead and posted what you posted, so to tell you the truth I’m really still kind of wondering about Pistons fans : )?

Kidding, kidding, I’m sure the majority of Pistons fans are great, just not the one who suggested the “Cousins got caught with pot” rumor. That was childish, foolish, and asshole-ish, there’s really no two ways about it. Sorry.

by BigSkyCat on Jun 18, 2025 6:50 PM EDT up reply actions  

yummy, those sour grapes sure do taste good! ; )

No sour grapes here, my team has much bigger issues to think about than who won the playoffs. Besides, last time our collective jerseys matched up, there were no sour grapes on this side of the equation…

But, then you went ahead and posted what you posted

I was only being cute, didn’t intend any offense to you or Lakers fans in general. I just couldn’t resist!

Uh, me, new?

by Mike Payne on Jun 18, 2025 7:14 PM EDT up reply actions  

it's cool.

It’s only sports after all, which is supposed to fun and jovial and certainly shouldn’t be used as a reason to be all shitty to other people and try to intentionally hurt their feelings. We are all just people who picked a side based on our parents’ allegiances, geographical location, etc, etc, and all sides have good and decent and worthy people, IMO.

And, I guess maybe I was too harsh on the rumor fan, I mean I guess he did try to start the rumor because he actually wants Cousins, right? So, I suppose his intentions were sort of ok, even if they appeared a tad twisted at the outset.

Good luck in the draft, hope ya’ll get who you want and need. Not sure about the Aldrich pick, myself, but then again I don’t know the ins and outs of your team needs and such like you do, so maybe that’s the right choice, you know, if Cousins isn’t available then.

by BigSkyCat on Jun 18, 2025 7:47 PM EDT up reply actions  

yeah i was just joking dude

i really hope we get cousins. it was all in good fun.

by dandresden on Jun 18, 2025 9:56 PM EDT up reply actions  

Take it easy

Good grief, BigSkyCat. You’re taking this far too seriously. It was a JOKE, and it was clearly a joke, if you’d taken the time to actually read the thread that was linked.

by brgulker on Jun 19, 2025 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions  

I know, I know.

Epic fail. I was wrong. It isn’t the first time and it certainly won’t be the last (how many women you know will admit to that? : )).

But, in my defense, I did apologize above and admitted to overreacting, but just to prove that I’m really not an inherently mean and horrible person, I will apologize again. Sorry for overreacting. Please don’t hate me for life, kay? : )

by BigSkyCat on Jun 19, 2025 5:21 PM EDT up reply actions  

youre okay in my book cat

im more worried about cousins beating all our asses if he finds out we posted this stuff.

by dandresden on Jun 20, 2025 12:20 AM EDT up reply actions  

I missed the apology above. My bad.

Just wanted it clear that DBB is a good place to read and comment.

Fist bump.

by brgulker on Jun 20, 2025 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions  

Not sure why so many people are down on this pick

I think he fits in well to the system Detroit runs, will have a solid career and fills a need.

by JoshuaR on Jun 18, 2025 2:07 PM EDT reply actions  

i can dig it.

Maxiell and I once shared a box of baby-ohs for breakfast.

by Band Aid on Jun 18, 2025 2:08 PM EDT reply actions  

i guess if we end up with him it wont be a disaster

when it was clear that the pistons were heading to the lotto i was excited that at least we would get a great pick. this dude just seems kinda whatever. he wont be kwame brown awful but i get the feeling that you will watch a whole game and not even realize he was playing.

by dandresden on Jun 18, 2025 3:56 PM EDT reply actions  

Greg Ostertag, redux.

"Sarchasm": (var. sarcasm) The gap in understanding which occurs when one attempts to be self-deprecating on behalf of others.

by feral on Jun 18, 2025 8:40 PM EDT up reply actions  

After Cousins there is not one player I'm particularly excited about.

Seeing how the chances of him falling to the Pistons are slim to none, getting that solid defensive presence in the paint is a solid decision.

Where in the world is Cheikh Samb?

by Kriz on Jun 18, 2025 4:07 PM EDT reply actions  

i agree with you buddha, but are any of the guys remaining really that much better than aldrich? this draft kinda sucks beyond the first 6 picks and we have the great luck of picking 7th. sad trombone.

by dandresden on Jun 19, 2025 6:40 PM EDT up reply actions  

re'd

for the Hammond part.

by brgulker on Jun 20, 2025 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions  

The Bucks just want to say thanks for Hammond

"We follow people who know a lot more about basketball than I do or pretend to..."
--David Stern

by Speedingtime on Jun 20, 2025 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions  

The Pistons Have So Many Holes Dumars Should Take The Best Player Available

No way that Aldrich will be the best player left on the board when the Pistons pick 7th.

Take the best talent available and worry about moving the pieces around later.

By the way to say that Thabeet was a bust is stupid. It was the media who was a bust and the Grizzzlies who were and are a perenial bust.

Thabeet never should have been drafted that high. Off of his college record against players with NBA potential he most likely wasn’t even a lottery pick.

However, unfortunately ESPN to a great extent controls who the top 5 to 10 picks are because they put so much hype into these guys that no GM has the guts to pass on picking a ESPN hyped player lest that GM be incessantly mocked by the media.

Beasley was another example of that in the negative and Jennings in the positve

This year it is John Wall. Over rated and over hyped just like T. Evans and D. Rose neither of whom can guard anyone and that is being kind.

by Buddahfan on Jun 19, 2025 5:27 PM EDT reply actions  


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