Skip to main content
Tennessee

NBA Draft analysts breakdown Chaz Lanier's fit with the Detroit Pistons

IMG_3593by:Grant Ramey•06/28/25•

GrantRamey

Chaz Lanier, Tennessee Athletics
Chaz Lanier, Tennessee Athletics

The Detroit Piston had a need and filled it by drafting Chaz Lanier in the second round of the NBA Draft Thursday night, selecting Tennessee Basketball’s star shooting guard with the No. 37 overall pick. 

“One of the Pistons biggest needs is perimeter shooting,” college basketball analyst John Fanta wrote. “To be able to get Chaz Lanier at 37 is an excellent value at that spot. 

“The Tennessee All-American was one of the best scorers in the country this past year. Really nice pick by Detroit.”

Chaz Lanier averaged 18.0 points, broke Tennessee’s single-season 3-point record

Lanier in his one season at Tennessee averaged 18.0 points per game last season while shooting 43.1% from the field and 39.5% from the 3-point line. He made 123 3-pointers in 38 games, breaking the previous record of 118 held by Chris Lofton.

The Nashville native transferred to Tennessee from North Florida, picking the home-state Vols over Kentucky and BYU. He had a breakout senior year at North Florida in 2023-24, averaging 19.7 points per game and making 108 threes in 32 games, shooting a career-high 44.0% from the 3-point line.

“Detroit is getting an excellent shooter,” Jay Bilas said after the pick during ESPN’s coverage of the NBA Draft. “He made the most threes in Tennessee history in a single season with 123 — 98 of those were catch-and-shoot, but he can shoot it on the move. He’s an excellent cutter, moves without the ball and gets it off quickly. Long arms, 6-9 wingspan.

“And he’s athletic,” Bilas continued. “(He had) the fourth fastest lane agility time at the Combine and the fifth highest max vertical leap. But I would call him a movement shooter with a good pull-up game … making the most threes in Tennessee history, I mean, Tennessee had Chris Lofton. And Dalton Knecht last year. Chaz Lanier can shoot it.”

Lanier was one of two Tennessee players drafted, followed by Jahmai Mashack at No. 59 overall. The Houston Rockets selected Mashack with the final pick in the draft, but sent him to the Memphis Grizzlies as part of a trade.

Zakai Zeigler and Jordan Gainey will play in the NBA Summer League, with the Pistons and Phoenix Suns, respectively. Igor Milicic Jr. got an Exhibit 10 contract with the Philadelphia 76ers.

‘He’s a big-time shooter (40% career on 3s) with size’

Lanier and Mashack made five straight years that Tennessee has had a player picked in the NBA Draft, a program record since the draft went to two rounds in 1989, and 10 NBA Draft picks for Rick Barnes in his 10 seasons with the Vols.

Dalton Knecht was the No. 17 overall pick in last year’s draft, following Julian Phillips in 2023, Kennedy Chandler in 2022, Jaden Springer and Keon Johnson in 2021 and Grant Williams, Admiral Schofield and Jordan Bone in 2019.

“Much like fellow former Tennessee star Dalton Knecht,” ESPN’s Kevin Pelton wrote in his NBA Draft grades, “Lanier bloomed late, going from 4.7 points at North Florida in 2022-23 to averaging 18 points in the SEC last season. 

“He’s a big-time shooter (40% career on 3s) with size who gives the Pistons some insurance if they can’t re-sign free agents Malik Beasley and Tim Hardaway Jr.”

You may also like