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The Detroit Pistons’ luck came to an end on Tuesday night.
Detroit, one year after their victorious triumph in the NBA Lottery, seemed to find themselves in an advantageous position yet again, poised to secure a top pick in the upcoming 2022 NBA Draft.
Pistons fans were not displaying greed, but rather harboring hopes for a top 3 placement in Tuesday’s 2022 NBA Draft Lottery.
However, Detroit was disappointed as they ended up with the No. 5 pick, much to the frustration of many fans.
What can we anticipate from this intriguing landing spot for the Pistons? Which players should Michigan sports bettors focus on for the pick?
Orlando Magic win NBA Draft Lottery
The Orlando Magic emerged as the fortunate victor of the NBA Draft Lottery held on Tuesday night.
The lottery honor was bestowed upon Orlando for the fourth time in history.
Before Tuesday’s lottery, Orlando, Oklahoma City, Houston, and Detroit all had an equal chance of winning the top pick, resulting in a four-way tie.
In a rather unfortunate turn of events, Detroit found itself in the most unfavorable position among the four teams.
This is how the lottery unfolded:
- Orlando Magic
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Houston Rockets
- Sacramento Kings
- Detroit Pistons
- Indiana Pacers
- Portland Trail Blazers
- New Orleans Pelicans
- San Antonio Spurs
- Washington Wizards
- New York Knicks
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Charlotte Hornets
- Cleveland Cavaliers
Jabari Smith Jr. favored to be top pick
Orlando is favoring Auburn forward Jabari Smith Jr. as the potential No. 1 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, which is just over a month away on June 23.
Smith entered Tuesday as a -105 favorite according to BetMGM Michigan. However, after the lottery, DraftKings Sportsbook MI increased Smith’s odds to -125.
The top favorites in this draft include forwards Chet Holmgren of Gonzaga (+150) and Paolo Banchero of Duke (+450), who are expected to have a significant impact.
Currently at BetMGM, Smith is receiving 22.6% of the wagers and has a 24% share of the handle in this market.
What can Pistons do at No. 5?
The Pistons had a strong desire to acquire one of the top three forwards in the draft.
If that does not occur, Detroit might have to consider addressing a different position.
In addition to the trio of forwards, Purdue’s Jaden Ivey (+4000) and Kentucky’s Shaedon Sharpe (+5000) emerge as the top five prospects in this draft, as per their likelihood of being selected first overall.
The primary requirements for Detroit are an assertive forward who can penetrate the rim and consistent shooting options.
Last season, Ivey displayed a shooting accuracy of 46% for Purdue, with a notable 35.8% success rate from behind the arc. Additionally, he managed to maintain an average of 17.3 points per game for the Boilermakers. Unexpectedly, Ivey has garnered a significant 43% share in the No. 1 pick market at BetMGM.
After completing high school in the fall, Sharpe joined the Kentucky program in January without ever setting foot on the floor. Although regarded as a top-tier athlete, Sharpe also carries a significant amount of risk.
