Saddiq Bey, Jerami Grant Contenders For NBA Postseason Awards

Can you please rephrase this?

This NBA season, it is no surprise that the Detroit Pistons are performing poorly.

With a disappointing record of 18-40, the Pistons find themselves at the bottom of the Eastern Conference and ranked third-worst in the entire league. Regrettably, they have failed to create many noteworthy moments.

Despite being in a rebuilding phase, there are still a few standout performers deserving of recognition for NBA postseason awards.

Saddiq Bey shines as Detroit’s top rookie in talented class

In the 2020 NBA Draft, the Pistons displayed significant aggression. In addition to selecting Killian Hayes as the No. 7 pick, Detroit engaged in trades to secure Isaiah Stewart and Saddiq Bey, allowing them to make additional top 20 selections.

Hayes, a talented point guard, entered the season as one of the most highly anticipated rookies in terms of NBA postseason accolades. He was given odds ranging from +600 to +900 to secure the NBA Rookie of the Year award.

However, a hip injury involving a torn right labrum sidelined him for several months, resulting in limited appearances for Hayes this season. With only 14 games under his belt, he has recorded an average of 5.9 points and 4.3 assists. Unfortunately, his shooting percentages have been subpar, with a field goal percentage of just 35.1% and a 3-point shooting percentage of 24.2%.

Stewart, a center standing at an impressive height of 6-foot-8, is currently playing approximately 20 minutes per game. Recently, he has been making a significant impact, showcasing his skills by averaging 7.3 points and 6.5 rebounds.

Bey has truly been the hidden gem. Drafted 19th, this 6-7 forward is currently averaging 11.4 points and 4.1 rebounds per game during the season.

Bey’s journey began with a slow start, but he has progressively picked up momentum since February. From February 5 onwards, Bey has showcased his scoring prowess in 19 games, tallying a minimum of 14 points in each. Amongst these impressive performances, he has achieved six games with a remarkable score of 20 points or more. Adding to his recent accomplishments, Bey set a new record for the Detroit Pistons by sinking six 3-pointers in a single quarter.

Despite being ranked second in the Rookie of the Year (ROY) rankings by Yahoo! Sports, Bey faces slim chances of actually winning the prestigious NBA postseason award.

As per Tuesday afternoon’s update from DraftKings Sportsbook, LaMelo Ball from the Charlotte Hornets leads as the favorite for Rookie of the Year (ROY) with odds of -250. Anthony Edwards from the Minnesota Timberwolves stands second with odds of +185, followed by Tyrese Haliburton from the Sacramento Kings in third place with odds of +750. There is a significant drop-off after that, with Immanuel Quickley from the New York Knicks placed fourth with odds of +6000. Bey and Patrick Williams from the Chicago Bulls are tied for fifth place with odds of +15000.

Ball has been sidelined due to an injury, but his comeback is anticipated in the near future.

Stewart and Hayes are excluded from the 18 rookies on the board.

Jerami Grant among NBA’s most improved

In another of its many offseason moves, Detroit acquired Jerami Grant last November through a trade with the Denver Nuggets in exchange for cash considerations.

In his pursuit, Grant desired to find a place where he could establish himself as the primary asset. Fortunately, he has achieved this status in Detroit.

In each game, Grant maintains an average of 22.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists.

His efforts are catching the attention of the league too. Grant stands as the second-favorite nominee for the league’s Most Improved Player Award.

Grant is listed as a +400 favorite to win the honor on DraftKings and BetRivers Sportsbook, while BetMGM Sportsbook has him listed as a +250 favorite.

Julius Randle, a player for the New York Knicks, is the frontrunner for the honor with odds ranging from -500 to -350. Randle’s performance this season has been outstanding, averaging 23.7 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game, all of which are career highs for the seasoned player. Furthermore, his impressive contributions have led the Knicks to secure the sixth spot in the Eastern Conference standings with a record of 31-27 after 58 out of 72 games.

Grant is surpassing his own standards and having a remarkable career year. In the 2018-19 season with Oklahoma City, his highest scoring average was 13.6 points, but he has easily exceeded that this year.

Pistons among top lottery contenders

There’s no doubt about it: The Detroit Pistons are primed to secure a top selection in the 2021 NBA Draft.

Detroit (18-40) has a better record than all teams except the Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves, who are also 15-43. The Orlando Magic (18-39) are slightly ahead of the Pistons by half a game.

The existing NBA Draft Lottery system ensures that the bottom three teams have an equal chance of obtaining the first overall pick, with each team having a 14% probability. However, the odds decrease for subsequent rankings. The team with the fourth-worst record has a 12.5% chance, while the fifth-ranked team holds a 10.5% chance.

Starting from 2019, the NBA Lottery expanded its selection from three random teams to four. Currently, Detroit’s draft prospects cannot be worse than securing the seventh pick.

The NBA Lottery has never been won by Detroit. The Pistons’ most recent selection within the top 3 occurred in 2003. However, their decision to pick Darko Milicic at No. 2 during that draft is widely known to have ended unfavorably.

According to CBS Sports’ most recent mock draft, Cade Cunningham, the guard from Oklahoma State, is projected as the first overall pick.

According to CBS, the Detroit Pistons are expected to select Evan Mobley, a 7-foot center from USC, as the second overall pick. Meanwhile, CBS predicts that Jalen Suggs, a guard from Gonzaga, will be chosen by the Minnesota Timberwolves as the third overall pick.

“Please rephrase the following sentence.”