If Detroit Pistons win 2024 NBA draft lottery, which Frenchman makes more sense?

The Detroit Pistons’ incoming head of basketball operations may have one similarity with Troy Weaver right off of the bat — the first draft pick of their tenure could be a Frenchman.

Two French prospects await the Pistons at the top of this year’s draft if they secure the first overall pick in Sunday’s NBA draft lottery, which will take place in Chicago. 7-foot-1 big man Alex Sarr and 6-10 wing Zaccharie Risacher are widely considered two of the best bets in a weak class, and both would fill significant needs.

Weaver remains in charge as the Pistons navigate next week’s combine, but it remains to be seen if the head of basketball operations will have a new crew of decision-makers in place before the two-round draft takes place on June 26-27.

Regardless of who’s calling the shots, Sarr and Risacher will be widely-mocked to the Pistons if they retain a top-three pick on Sunday (they can fall as low as five). That’s not to say they’re the only two logical options in that range — arguments can be made for NCAA standouts Donovan Clingan, Reed Sheppard and G League Ignite’s Matas Buzelis.

In this exercise, we’ll just focus on Sarr and Risacher.

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Alex Sarr

19-year-old forward/center; averages 9.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, 1 steal, 18 minutes

The case for: No other player in this year’s class combines Sarr’s blend of athleticism, mobility and instinct on defense. He’s a “modern big” on that end of the floor — skilled at deterring shots at the rim and closing out on smaller wings and guards on the perimeter — fitting an archetype currently occupied by 2023 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. and runner-up Evan Mobley.

Sarr has real upside offensively, too. His athleticism and mobility allow him to excel at pushing the ball and finishing plays in transition and capitalizing on open lanes to the rim. He has also shown some potential as a shooter and likes to take them from midrange, but his 27.6% clip from 3 (on nearly two attempts) and 70.7% clip at the line suggests he has significant room for improvement.

If it all comes together, Sarr has a chance to be among the league’s best two-way players and the type of toolsy big man that can transform a team’s defense. He’s still raw in several areas, but he’s one of the few players in this class with a clear chance to deliver No. 1 pick value down the road.

The case against: The Pistons already have a franchise center in Jalen Duren, meaning Sarr would either have to thrive alongside him or they would eventually have to pick between the two.

Duren averaged 13.6 points and 11.8 rebounds in his second season, thriving in the pick-and-roll with Cade Cunningham and is still among the NBA’s youngest players at 20. But Duren’s development on defense has lagged, and he’ll have to grow into a rim protector for the Pistons to have a shot at moving out of the Eastern Conference’s basement.

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Despite his athletic gifts, Sarr is an underwhelming rebounder and lacks Duren’s power as a lob threat. The Memphis Grizzlies and Cleveland Cavaliers have both found success with playing Jackson and Mobley at power forward and pairing them with more-capable rebounders and screeners, so that’s a potential path for Detroit should they opt to both draft Sarr and continue prioritizing Duren’s development.

That’s one of the key evaluations Detroit’s next decision-maker will have to make, should Sarr become the pick. He addresses a massive need with his defensive versatility, but is a bit of a tweener on both ends of the floor due to his lack of shooting and slight 217-pound frame. Duren was listed at 250 as an 18-year-old freshman at Memphis, as a point of comparison.

Zaccharie Risacher

19-year-old forward; averages 10.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 40.6% from 3 (3.4 attempts)

The case for: What NBA team doesn’t need a big wing that can space the floor and defend? That’s the argument for Risacher, whose spot-up shooting and length along the perimeter makes him a strong fit on just about any roster.

He’s knocking down 40.6% of his 3-pointers and only recently turned 19, giving some belief that there’s still a lot of growth ahead. He’s a capable ball-handler and can make plays in transition as well, but projects best as an off-ball shooter at the next level.

Risacher’s elite size for a wing, standing 6-10, sets him apart from his peers in this class. JL Bourg has trusted him with a variety of defensive assignments, and he has held his own. Players such as Cameron Johnson and Mikal Bridges have shown the importance of having versatile two-way wings, and Risacher has a chance to be productive from day-one.

The case against: It’s tough to form an argument against this fit. The Pistons desperately need off-ball shooters who can space the floor and take pressure off of Cunningham. That’s Risacher, in a nutshell, and he would be a long-term solution for a Pistons team that has struggled to shoot the ball for several seasons in a row.

But following the worst season in franchise history, where is Tom Gores’ patience level? Detroit hasn’t cracked 25 wins in five years while undergoing a full rebuild, and the head of basketball operations will have to weigh the upside of keeping this year’s pick against moving it for immediate help.

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Opinion is split on Risacher’s long-term upside. Is he just a 3-and-D wing, or can he develop into more? He hasn’t shown a lot of juice as a ball-handler or finisher at the rim. The salary for this year’s first-round pick will start at roughly $10.5 million a year. For that money, there may be safer options in free agency or the trade market.

He checks multiple boxes the Pistons need as a player. The viability of picking him, though, largely depends on how patient Detroit’s next head of basketball operations is willing to be.

Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him @omarisankofa.

Lottery ticket

What: 2024 NBA draft lottery.

Fast facts: 3 p.m. Sunday, Chicago; ABC.

The rules: The NBA will determine the top 14 picks in the June draft using the 1,001 different combinations with 14 ping-pong balls.

The top pick: The Pistons and Washington Wizards have the best odds, each at 14%, with the Charlotte Hornets sporting the second-best odds at 13.3%.

Five for fighting: The Pistons can drop no lower than fifth overall. They had the best odds last season and did drop to No. 5 overall.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: If Detroit Pistons win 2024 NBA lottery, which Frenchman makes sense?