It was a long, long wait for the Detroit Pistons as they spent several hours and 37 picks preparing to make their first selection in the 2014 NBA Draft. And in picking Spencer Dinwiddie they grabbed one of their primary targets throughout the draft process.
And while Dinwiddie was obviously high on the Pistons' draft board and a popular option among Pistons fans, what did the NBA community as a whole feel about Detroit's limited draft haul? Not that it matters, but they gave out grades, so we're collecting them all in one convenient post.
Detroit Pistons: C
Round 1: None
Round 2: Spencer Dinwiddie (38)
Analysis: The Pistons had their heart broken on draft night when the Cavs jumped ahead of them to the No. 1 pick and they were pushed down one spot -- just low enough to be forced to send their first-rounder to the Hornets. It was a major blow. With players such as Noah Vonleh, Doug McDermott and Elfrid Payton still left on the board, the Pistons must have watched the draft and cringed the entire time.
The good news is that they did get a nice player in Dinwiddie at 38. Dinwiddie would have been a mid-first-rounder if he hadn't torn his ACL at midseason. He has size for his position, a high basketball IQ and knows how to score. His lack of elite athleticism limited his upside, but he has talent and could help the Pistons down the road.
Yahoo's Ball Don't Lie editor Kelly Dwyer:
The haul: Spencer Dinwiddie
New Pistons el jefe Stan Van Gundy and GM Jeff Bower entered the night without a first round selection, as the squad's would-be lottery pick was sent to Charlotte in a cost-cutting move that sadly helped the team eventually acquire Josh Smith and Brandon Jennings, but it made out quite well on Thursday in the end. Picking in the second round, the franchise chose Dimwiddle as a stash of sorts, while the new front office figures out just what the heck it is going to do with its mess of a roster.
Dimwiddle is a 6-6 point guard with lottery level talent, but he tore his left ACL midway through last January, and figures to need the bulk of his rookie year to get back up to his regular speed, much less adapt to the rigors of NBA competition. Still, a smart contract from the Pistons' end could keep the prospect in the fold, and he'll only be 22 when 2015-16 tips off.
Grade: A
CBS Sports' NBA Writer Zach Harper:
DETROIT PISTONS
Players acquired: Spencer Dinwiddie (38th)
Grade: A
Considering the Pistons had to wait 37 picks until they got to take a turn, ending up with Spencer Dinwiddie at 38 was a great draft for them. Had he not blown out his knee during the college season, he would have been a definite first round pick and maybe even sneaks into the top 20. He can play both guard positions, had a great touch on his jumper, and he's a fantastic playmaker. Stan Van Gundy will love him.
Detroit Pistons
Additions: PG/SG Spencer Dinwiddie (No. 38 pick, Colorado).
Once a likely first-rounder, Dinwiddie fell because he missed half his senior season because of a knee ligament tear. That didn't stop Detroit from taking a chance on the talented combo guard. Dinwiddie fits because he can play alongside Brandon Jennings and help with passing or run the point in bigger lineups. He also could challenge Kentavious Caldwell-Pope for time after his disappointing rookie season. The Pistons should've had their first-rounder (a Joe Dumars blunder), but Stan Van Gundy impressed with this very solid pick.
Grade: A-
38. Detroit Pistons: Spencer Dinwiddie, G, Colorado - B GradeDinwiddie is a versatile guard and could help replace Rodney Stuckey, who is a free agent this summer.
Bob Wojnarowski at the Detroit News:
Spencer Dinwiddie is a 6-foot-6 point guard who can shoot, and probably would have been a first-round pick if he didn't tear the ACL in his left knee during a game Jan. 12. The Pistons grabbed him in the second round, No. 38 overall, on Thursday night, and it's a long-term value pick, about the only thing Stan Van Gundy could expect to get in this draft.
Vincent Ellis at the Detroit Free Press:
The Pistons get a talented guard with size that is able to get to the rim, distribute and score - a talent growing more and more important in today's NBA of pick-and-roll basketball.
How would you grade the Pistons' lone draft pick?