NBA Draft: The State of Detroit Post-Lottery

NBA Draft Lottery night was not a great one for Detroit.

After finishing with 17 wins and 65 losses, good for the worst in the league, the Pistons came into the night with a 14% chance at landing the first overall pick. This percentage was tied for the highest odds of every team. Landing this pick would mean earning the rights to draft Victor Wembanyama, the 7-foot-4 freakish Frenchman, who boasts the most pre-draft hype since LeBron James two decades ago.

However, in a stunning turn of events, Detroit slipped all the way down to the lowest pick they could have received. The fifth overall pick is ways away from Wembenyama, or even Scoot Henderson.

Still, the top notch quality of this draft class stretches far beyond the top two. Detroit fans should not stress one bit, for they’ll still be in prime position to land an elite young prospect to add to their young core.

Detroit’s current foundation is built upon three key players: Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren.

Cunningham, the first overall pick in 2021, is who the Pistons look to as the face of their franchise. The 6-foot-6 point guard had an incredible rookie season, and started his sophomore season on an extremely high note before suffering a season-ending shin injury. Prior to this injury, the former Oklahoma State Cowboy averaged just south of 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists per game, flashing all the makings of a superstar.

In his rookie season, Ivey flashed as much upside as just about anyone. After being selected with the fifth pick out of Purdue, the 6-foot-4 speedster put his explosiveness to work and averaged over 16 points and 5 assists per contest.

Duren somehow fell into Detroit’s lap with the 13th pick in last year’s draft, and quickly etched himself as a steal. He was a double-double machine at the ripe age of 19. In under 25 minutes per game, he managed to average 9.1 points and 8.9 rebounds. From his rim protection, to finishing, to mobility, to rebounding, to passing, he has everything a team would like out of a center, all at just 19 years old.

What this core lacks, however, is a true wing. Luckily, with Wembenyama, Henderson, and Brandon Miller presumably off the board by their pick, Detroit will get a chance to select either Amen or Ausar Thompson.

Both of these twins are 6-foot-7 wings with generational athleticism. Both bring ball handling, slashing, passing, and versatile defense, perfect for the Pistons core. Ending up with one of these two would make Detroit’s draft night a pretty considerable win in my book.

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