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The Detroit Pistons, who have spent the past ten years in a challenging phase, now have an opportunity to improve their future prospects through this month’s NBA Draft Lottery.
The outcome of the calendar year will be determined by the way the ping-pong balls fall on Tuesday, June 22 (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN), as is often the case for NBA teams looking for a boost.
Seemingly every measure indicated that this past season was a success, even to the portion of the fan base that was mostly disengaged on the court.
Despite the team’s abysmal winning percentage of 20-52 (.278), which is the worst in nearly three decades, this outlook remains unchanged.
You might be wondering how this is possible. Well, as devoted followers of the Pistons understand, even if it means sliding down in the rankings, any kind of movement is considered progress. The franchise has been lacking a clear direction for far too long.
Detroit Pistons stuck in the NBA’s middle
After clinching the NBA championship in 2004, the Pistons front office has predominantly focused on making strategic decisions to ensure the franchise’s continued success.
The franchise remained far from being a championship contender due to significant draft misses like Austin Daye, Brandon Knight, and Stanley Johnson. Additionally, the team’s substantial investments in Andre Drummond and Reggie Jackson further contributed to this cycle. As a result, the franchise was unable to become a serious contender for the championship, yet also did not perform poorly enough to secure a valuable lottery pick.
The culmination of this pattern occurred in January 2018 with the ill-advised trade for Blake Griffin. As expected, Griffin provided a temporary boost to the franchise, but unfortunately, this acquisition hindered the necessary long-term changes.
The dismissal of Stan Van Gundy as the coach and president of basketball operations following that season indicated that change was imminent.
Following a two-year period of contemplation, executive Ed Stefanski finally took action last summer by recruiting Troy Weaver from Oklahoma City. This marked the beginning of a significant endeavor to revive the Pistons, a franchise that was once highly esteemed.
However, the journey ahead was still lengthy. Setting aside thoughts of winning a playoff series, the Pistons have been unable to secure a playoff victory since 2008.
Troy Weaver’s eye for talent proving prescient
Weaver’s reputation as a phenomenal scout was established during his tenure with the Thunder, as well as his previous positions.
In Year 1, he proved himself worthy of that reputation.
It appears as though the 2020 NBA Draft produced steals with the selections of Isaiah Stewart at No. 16 and Saddiq Bey at No. 19.
In the first year of his three-year contract, the decision to sign Jerami Grant for $60 million proved to be a triumph. Grant’s transformation from a mere role player to a central figure was highly successful, as evidenced by his second-place ranking in the Most Improved Player award voting.
Even though Weaver didn’t fully take advantage of the leftover value in the cupboard from his predecessors, the fact that he prioritized thoroughly cleaning it was another success in his debut season.
Only Sekou Doumbouya, the sole player, endures from the previous summer, within a span of fewer than twelve months.
Certainly, Weaver had the option to challenge bluffs and approach asset management with more patience. However, it is undeniable that Detroit is currently in a significantly improved state compared to when he first came.
2021 NBA Draft: A chance for a jolt
The conditions around the Pistons are now perfect for sustained growth.
Grant is a young player with the potential to contribute significant playing time for any NBA team. Additionally, Stewart, Bey, and Killian Hayes are three rookies who possess the potential to grow into starting-caliber players for a playoff-contending team.
In the upcoming month, that group may potentially welcome a genuine catalyst.
A loaded class is led by talented players such as Cade Cunningham from Oklahoma State, Evan Mobley from USC, Jalen Suggs from Gonzaga, and standout performers Jalen Green and Jonathan Kuminga from G League Ignite.
The Detroit Pistons are in a favorable position this year, possessing an abundance of NBA Draft Lottery picks, making it an opportune time to hold a significant number of ping-pong balls.
Houston, Detroit, and Orlando each have an equal probability of 14.0% to secure the No. 1 pick in the lottery. Their chances decrease slightly to 13.4% for the No. 2 pick, followed by 12.7% for the No. 3 pick, and 11.9% for the No. 4 pick.
Furthermore, with the Pistons being the second-worst team in the league, the likelihood of them dropping to the sixth position in a worst-case scenario is only 20.1%.
Weaver’s exceptional scouting skills offer a glimmer of hope for achieving that number once more. However, obtaining a high pick in a highly talented class would undoubtedly provide a much-needed sense of relief for the fan base, which seems to have been longing for it forever.
2021 NBA Draft Lottery odds
The projected rankings for the 14 teams participating in the NBA Draft Lottery on June 22 (excluding trades) are as follows:
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston Rockets | 14.0 | 13.4 | 12.7 | 11.9 | 47.9 | |||||||||
| Detroit Pistons | 14.0 | 13.4 | 12.7 | 11.9 | 27.8 | 20.1 | ||||||||
| Orlando Magic | 14.0 | 13.4 | 12.7 | 11.9 | 14.8 | 26.0 | 7.1 | |||||||
| Oklahoma City Thunder | 11.5 | 11.4 | 11.2 | 11.0 | 7.4 | 27.1 | 18.0 | 2.4 | ||||||
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 11.5 | 11.4 | 11.2 | 11.0 | 2.0 | 18.2 | 25.5 | 8.6 | 0.6 | |||||
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 9.0 | 9.2 | 9.4 | 9.6 | 8.6 | 29.7 | 20.6 | 3.8 | 0.2 | |||||
| Toronto Raptors | 7.5 | 7.8 | 8.1 | 8.5 | 19.8 | 33.9 | 13.0 | 1.4 | >0.0 | |||||
| Chicago Bulls | 4.5 | 4.8 | 5.2 | 5.7 | 34.5 | 36.2 | 8.5 | 0.5 | >0.0 | |||||
| Sacramento Kings | 4.5 | 4.8 | 5.2 | 5.7 | 46.4 | 29.4 | 3.9 | 0.1 | >0.0 | |||||
| New Orleans Pelicans | 4.5 | 4.8 | 5.2 | 5.7 | 60.6 | 17.9 | 1.2 | >0.0 | >0.0 | |||||
| Charlotte Hornets | 1.8 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 77.6 | 13.4 | 0.4 | >0.0 | ||||||
| San Antonio Spurs | 1.7 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 2.4 | 85.2 | 6.6 | 0.1 | |||||||
| Indiana Pacers | 1.0 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 92.9 | 2.3 | ||||||||
| Golden State Warriors | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 97.6 |
Detroit Pistons have little past NBA lottery luck
If you have faith in karma, the Pistons could potentially enjoy good fortune on draft night. Conversely, if you place your belief in curses, Detroit’s basketball team would likely rank high on any such list.
Out of the numerous lottery numbers available, one fact remains indisputable: The Pistons have consistently remained in their original draft position without any upward movement.
Since its inclusion in 1985, Detroit has never experienced an increase in its own draft pick through the lottery.
Grant Hill was selected by the Pistons in 1994 after they moved down from the second spot to the third spot in the draft.
In 2003, Detroit made the decision to pick Darko Milicic at the second spot in the draft. Interestingly, it was Memphis who had originally held the sixth position but managed to move up to the second spot. They were just one spot short of retaining their pick and potentially acquiring LeBron James.
Pistons have best draft opportunity since Darko flop
When we talk about the year 2003, it is enlightening to revisit the top five during that time in order to gain a better understanding of the context of this draft.
Let me clarify, there is no comparison being made between Cunningham or any other player in this draft to LeBron.
Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade, who are all Hall of Famers, shouldn’t be burdened with such high expectations.
However, the Pistons may now have their greatest opportunity since the disastrous Darko pick, which is widely regarded as one of the top 5 worst draft selections in American sports history, to discover a player who can become the cornerstone of their franchise.
Securing the NBA lottery victory does not guarantee a fail-safe situation for the Detroit Pistons. Despite their success, there remains a possibility of encountering a Darko-like disappointment or a couple of unforeseen hidden talents that Troy Weaver, the Pistons’ general manager, may stumble upon in the future.
However, there is a possibility for the Pistons to regain relevance if luck favors them next Tuesday and the balls bounce in their favor.
Can you bet on the NBA Draft Lottery in Michigan?
It is possible for you to do so.
The NBA Draft Lottery wagers have been recently approved by the Michigan Gaming Control Board.
The live odds for the first pick, according to PointsBet Sportsbook, are as follows: Houston, Detroit, and Orlando have odds of +550; Cleveland and Oklahoma City have odds of +650; Minnesota has odds of +900; Toronto has odds of +1100; Chicago, Sacramento, and New Orleans have odds of +1600.
The Pistons have +550 odds for securing the first overall pick, +580 for the second, +600 for the third, +650 for the fourth, +245 for the fifth, and +370 for the sixth.
The MGCB allows for NBA Draft bets as well, meaning there will be numerous opportunities to bet on the Pistons’ final selection on July 29.
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