PistonPowered
Fansided

The worst draft picks in Detroit Pistons’ history

By Brenden Welper

Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; A general view of a video board displaying all thirty draft picks in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; A general view of a video board displaying all thirty draft picks in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next

2. Brandon Knight – 2011 – Guard – Round 1, Pick 8 (8th overall)

Putting Knight at No. 2 might seem a little high, and maybe even a little unfair. After all, he’s become a decent NBA player in Phoenix. He was also a borderline All-Star in 2015-16. Knight’s numbers are better than any other player on this list. But make no mistake, he belongs here.

Knight was drafted ahead of Kemba Walker, Kawhi Leonard and Jimmy Butler. Leonard and Butler alone make this pick look like a mistake. But even non-superstars like Iman Shumpert, Tobias Harris, Reggie Jackson and Kenneth Faried were taken well after him. All of those players listed have had more successful careers than Brandon Knight.

There are higher expectations for lottery picks, particularly those who fall within the top ten. Detroit swung and missed in the 2011 draft. Knight averaged 13.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.9 assists in two seasons as a Piston. He never seemed to fit as the point guard, being too hesitant to pass and making poor decisions off the dribble.

Maybe that’s why he’s found success in Milwaukee and Phoenix, where’s he’s been strictly a shooting guard. Knight isn’t a knock down shooter by any means.  But he’s somewhat reliable at 41 percent throughout his career.

Knight might be the best player on this list, but that doesn’t mean he was the right pick for the Pistons. Simply put, a player selected at No. 8 has to produce so much more. It doesn’t help that this was one of the deeper drafts in recent memory.

Brandon Knight is a likable guy and he’ll most likely have a long NBA career. But if it’s not with the Detroit Pistons, it really doesn’t matter. Two average (at best) seasons with the club that drafted you eighth overall is a major disappointment.