Most experts and fans were surprised when the Detroit Pistons selected Ron Holland II with the 5th pick in the 2024 draft.
As one of the youngest players in his class, Holland is a project that was expected to go later after being mocked in the top five for much of the early part of last season.
He’s also not a shooter, so he doesn’t immediately fit in with the Pistons’ other young players, several of whom (Jaden Ivey, Ausar Thompson, Jalen Duren) also have shooting issues.
But new team president Trajan Langdon didn’t care about any of that because he saw what Holland could be, not what he is. Langdon has shown an affinity for athletic wingers who can defend, and Holland fits the mold because he has a nonstop motor and the desire to be great at it.
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Langdon swung for potential He let Pistons fans know he wasn’t going to rush things just because the team has been terrible for five years and is coming off the worst season in history.
While Langdon may have a vision, NBA coaches, executives and scouts don’t see it and haven’t given Holland any love in a recent survey for ESPN (subscription).
A group of NBA coaches, executives and scouts were asked which player would win the 2024-25 Rookie of the Year and Ron Holland II didn’t get a single vote.
Zach Edey (8) won the vote with Reed Sheppard (5) second, Alex Sarr (2) third and Stephon Castle, Tristan da Silva and Rob Dillingham getting one vote each.
This isn’t surprising, as Holland just turned 19, has a raw offensive game, and may not even be in the Pistons’ rotation to start the season. If he is, it will likely be off the bench, so Holland will have to earn his minutes over time.
Edey will likely start immediately for a playoff-contending team, so it makes sense that a 22-year-old with NBA-ready skills would be the favorite, especially in a draft without a clear star.
But what about the future? A promising talent like Holland will surely have some believers?
The group was also asked who the best recruit would be in five years, and I expected Holland to get at least a vote or two in that election, as his ceiling is as high as anyone in the draft.
But Holland didn’t get a single vote in that poll either. Instead, it went to Reed Sheppard (8), Stephon Castle (3), Donovan Clingan (2), Nikola Topic (2), with Matas Buzelis, Dalton Knecht and Bub Carrington each getting one vote.
It’s no surprise that a non-consensus top-five draft would produce results like these, since you’d have a better chance predicting the Powerball than you would knowing which of these starters will be a star.
I think the best player in this draft will come out of nowhere and may not make this list at all. Hopefully that player will be Ron Holland II, who will have plenty to motivate him this summer as he tries to prove that the Detroit Pistons made the right choice.
