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On Thursday, the NBA made the decision to move forward without the Detroit Pistons, bringing an end to their sorrowful season that had been filled with disappointment.
As the league heads to Disney World to determine the champion for the 2019-20 season, the Pistons, who were once a symbol of pride, find themselves nursing their wounds and embarking on the initial phases of a potentially arduous and lengthy rebuilding process.
Although many agree that the 2020 NBA Draft crop is one of the weakest in recent memory, a stroke of lottery luck could provide a pleasant boost.
Pistons have solid NBA Draft Lottery odds
On March 11, the Pistons concluded their play with a record of 20-46, ranking them as the fifth-worst team in the league.
Unfortunately, they found themselves in an undesirable position, being just half a game away from securing the second spot in the league’s reverse standings. Their downfall began after trading Andre Drummond, resulting in a loss of 18 out of their last 21 games. To make matters worse, Detroit’s chances of moving up the lottery ladder were hindered when Blake Griffin suffered a season-ending injury.
To improve their chances, it was crucial for the Pistons to secure a position within the top three spots, where the odds are more balanced. Teams in this range have a 14.0% chance of securing the number one pick and a 52.1% chance of obtaining a pick within the top four.
However, the Pistons remain in fifth place as the league has confirmed that the standings from March 11 will not be altered.
As we approach the 2020 NBA Draft Lottery on Aug. 25, the Pistons are holding a 10.5% probability of securing the first overall pick, while they have a 42.1% chance of being among the top four picks.
Odds to be top pick in 2020 NBA Draft
| DraftKings Sportsbook | FoxBet Sportsbook | PointsBet Sportsbook | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anthony Edwards | -110 | +110 | +100 |
| James Wiseman | +175 | +150 | +180 |
| LaMelo Ball | +250 | +300 | +300 |
| Deni Avdija | +1,500 | +650 | +525 |
| Obi Toppin | +1,000 | +700 | +600 |
| Killian Hayes | +1,500 | +1,700 | +2,000 |
| RJ Hampton | +2,000 | +3,000 | +3,000 |
| Onyeka Okongwu | +3,000 | +2,200 | +2,000 |
| Isaac Okoro | +4,000 | +5,000 | +4,500 |
| Cole Anthony | +5,000 | +2,800 | +1,800 |
| Tyrese Haliburton | +5,000 | +1,800 | +1,400 |
Futures odds for the 2020 NBA Draft’s top pick on Oct. 15 have been released by sportsbooks, with the NBA Draft Lottery scheduled for Aug. 25.
Who will be the first pick of the NBA Draft?
On October 15, the betting markets are converging on a group of three prospects who have the highest chances of being chosen first.
The top contenders to be chosen first in the upcoming draft are Georgia’s Anthony Edwards, Memphis’ James Wiseman, and the widely-experienced guard LaMelo Ball.
Edwards has recently emerged as the top performer. During his time with the Bulldogs, he maintained an impressive average of 19.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per season.
In late April, Edwards was given the second-highest odds of +200 by DraftKings Sportsbook, which officially entered Michigan on Thursday.
Nevertheless, by Friday afternoon, his chances of being selected as the top pick were highly favored with odds of -110.
In April, Edwards was the top pick according to FanDuel Sportsbook, with equal odds of +100 to be selected first.
Wiseman consensus second, Ball third with short odds
After participating in only three games during his single season at Memphis before being deemed ineligible, Wiseman was initially favored to be the top pick in April with odds set at -110 by DraftKings. However, he is currently listed as the second favorite with odds of +175.
Ball, who played in Australia last year, is ranked third on the list at +250 by DraftKings.
According to Fox Bet (+110) and PointsBet (+100), Edwards is also the top choice to secure the No. 1 spot.
In terms of odds, Wiseman holds the second-highest position for Fox Bet (+150) and PointsBet (+180), while Ball secures the third spot with odds of (+300) in both platforms.
Big drop-off to long shot NBA Draft prospects
The significant decline in the remaining names on the list indicates that everyone else has a slim chance of being chosen as the top pick.
According to Fox Bet and PointsBet, Deni Avdija from Israel holds the fourth position with odds of +650 and +525 respectively. On the DraftKings list, Obi Toppin from Dayton ranks fourth with odds of +1,000.
DraftKings has tied point guard Killian Hayes of France with Avdija for fifth place, with odds of +1,500.
Pistons searching for GM, building a young core
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, it was reported last week that the Pistons are seemingly in the market for a general manager.
After two years without a General Manager, Coach Dwane Casey and special adviser Ed Stefanski are leading the quest to find a new owner, Tom Gores.
In the upcoming season, the team’s focus will be on constructing a strong foundation centered around a group of promising young players. This core includes Bruce Brown, Sekou Doumbouya, Luke Kennard, and Svi Mykhailiuk. Additionally, they will be joined by Christian Wood, a restricted free agent during this offseason.
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