Best NBA draft fits for Caleb Houstan and Moussa Diabate

Breaking down the ideal landing spots for Michigan basketball players in the 2022 NBA draft. 

The 2022 NBA Draft is officially here, and four former Michigan basketball players hope to hear their names called in the draft, in Caleb Houstan, Moussa Diabate, Eli Brooks, and DeVante Jones.

Unfortunately, I don’t think everybody will be drafted, as the draft is only two rounds (with 60 total picks), and there are only 58 picks this year after the Heat and Bulls had to give up their 2022 second round picks for tampering.

That’s okay though, because I believe two former Wolverines will hear their names called in Caleb Houstan and Moussa Diabate.

Best fits for Caleb Houstan

Memphis Grizzles

The Memphis Grizzlies really expedited their franchise rebuild when they took Ja Morant back in 2019 at #2 overall, and have kept adding pieces to their team ever since.

They are one of the youngest teams in the NBA, riding on the backs of their young, talented players, and have a great system in place to get their draft picks the proper developmental time in the system to thrive.

NBA teams always value shooting, and with the proper coaching and development, Houstan can turn into one of those deadly knockdown shooters.

I don’t know if Houstan would ever be a starter in Memphis, but I feel like his ceiling is a sharpshooting sixth man off the bench, who averages somewhere between 20-25 minutes per game.

Memphis already has Ja, Xavier Tillman, Desmond Bane, Zhaire Williams, Brandon Clarke, Dillon Brooks, and more, so adding Houstan to this group of guys just adds more talent to their already really good roster.

Oklahoma City Thunder

To be honest, Oklahoma City needs a little bit of everything. They have three first round picks this year at #2, #12, and #30, so they can afford to take a swing on Caleb at the back of the first round.

If Caleb gets drafted to OKC, there’s a chance he might get to play with former Wolverine Xavier Simpson, as Simpson got some run at the tail end of last year for the Thunder.

OKC was one of the worst three-point shooting teams in the NBA last year, so adding a guy like Houstan would really help out their team for the future.

Moussa Diabate

Of the Michigan basketball two players who left early for the NBA draft, I feel Moussa has the best chance to be drafted the highest, as he brings elite length, height, and athleticism to the game, traits that are highly coveted in today’s NBA.

Detroit Pistons

The Detroit Pistons might be a team early in the second round that would be willing to take a shot on a guy like Moussa, or even Caleb.

Remember, John Beilein is still with the Pistons, as he is their senior advisor for player development, tasked with getting the best out of each player, so it wouldn’t surprise me if John convinces Pistons GM Troy Weaver to take a shot on Moussa.

Jerami Grant has since been traded to the Portland Trail Blazers as of yesterday, so there is a hole at the ‘4’ spot (which could be used to draft Keegan Murray potentially but we’ll see).

The Pistons need more size, and Moussa brings it at 6’11, with a tremendous wingspan. If Moussa can keep developing his post moves, footwork, and shooting, he would be an early-second round steal for Detroit.

Toronto Raptors

One of the best teams at developing talent, the Toronto Raptors would be a great home for Moussa Diabate.

Besides Siakam, Toronto doesn’t really have a great power forward who would be able to run the floor, do post-work, and play defense. Moussa checks all of those boxes.

Moussa has the ability to play the four or the five, so there is a lot of versatility with him, and Toronto could do all sorts of lineups with him on the court.

Depending on what happens with Chris Boucher, Toronto will be in the market for a big this off-season, and OG Anunoby is their only other solid big right now. Moussa would have ample opportunity to earn playing time.

Overview

Overall, I expect Caleb and Moussa to hear their names called at some point in the NBA Draft.

Michigan basketball is sixth all-time in first round draft picks behind Kansas, UCLA, Duke, UNC, and Kentucky at #1, so, hopefully, they can add two more to that total later tonight.

Draft boards have been all over for the most part in terms of where experts expect Moussa and Caleb to go. I could see them going towards the back of the first or towards the beginning to middle part of the second round.

Honestly, for Caleb and Moussa to both leave at once makes you get the sense that some sort of promise was given to them in the first round, because second round picks don’t have guaranteed contracts in the NBA.

We will see though. Wherever they end up, they should at least have a chance to make an impact.

Side note: here is the entire draft order (scroll down near the bottom of this website to find it).