Chris Nelsen

Special to Detroit Free Press

With the Detroit Pistons seemingly locked into their core group — Andre Drummond, Blake Griffin and Reggie Jackson all have large contracts next season and would be hard to trade — the team needs to have success in the NBA draft.

Drummond, the grand marshal for Saturday's Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear, shared his thoughts on what the Pistons should do with the 15th overall pick.

“I think we’re in the hunt for a wing, a tall wing,” Drummond said before Saturday's rain-shortened race. “There are a couple guys we’re keying on. We’ll see what they do in the workouts and predraft.”

Any chance Drummond will say who those players are?

“I’m not giving you a clue on that,” he said, cracking a smile.

Drafting wasn't necessarily a strong suit for Drummond's former coach, Stan Van Gundy, who doubled as the team president of basketball operations from 2014-18.

“Our guys probably weren’t the best fit for him,” Drummond said. “I think if he had an older team, he’d be very good. His style of play is more for like the Spurs, an older team that’s more advanced.”

Despite drawing ire from disgruntled fans — Van Gundy compiled a 152-176 record before he was let go by the Pistons and was swept in his only playoff appearance in 2016 — Drummond, twice an All-Star under Van Gundy, came to his defense.

“I would never criticize Stan Van Gundy,” Drummond said. “He was very, very good to this entire team. I loved playing for him. He’s a great guy.”

Van Gundy did orchestrate a blockbuster trade in 2018, acquiring Blake Griffin from the Clippers. The move was met with skepticism, considering Griffin’s injury history and big contract, but this season was encouraging.

Despite battling a knee injury late in the year — he missed the opening two playoff games against the Milwaukee Bucks — Griffin averaged 24.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.4 assists, earning third team All-NBA honors.

The Pistons announced in April that Griffin underwent a successful arthroscopic procedure on his left knee, and he’s not expected to miss any planned offseason training.

“Blake played fantastic,” Drummond said. “He’s going to take care of his body this summer and come back at 100%. You got to take your hat off to a guy who fights through pain. It’s not fun playing with a knee injury.”

No stranger to events in and around the city, Drummond has been impressed with the city’s development in recent years.

“From when I came in 2012, the changes — how economically everything is being turned around — is really, really cool,” Drummond said. “We’re bringing in a lot of money. It’s only going to get better from here.”