ESPN's Chad Ford has released his third 2011 NBA mock draft. This edition has the Detroit Pistons selecting Jonas Valanciunas, a center from Lithuania.
Ford's reasoning for the pick is as follows:
For the third straight week, the Pistons' player changes. This time, it's because of opportunity. In the past two mocks I've had Valanciunas going before the eighth pick. If he slides this far, I think the Pistons will grab him.
Ford goes on to explain that the Pistons would certainly look at Bismack Biyombo and Tristan Thompson with the eighth overall pick, but Valanciunas has both size and major upside. That is why Ford made him the Pistons' pick in his mock draft -- Valanciunas has more potential than other players still available. He is the better option for the Pistons in Ford's eyes, even if it means waiting a year for him to come over to the United States to play in the NBA.