15th overall picks from the last decade

The Detroit Pistons draft at the 15th overall slot in this upcoming NBA Draft. What does the history of the 15th pick say for the Pistons?

When the Detroit Pistons clinched the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, it was known that they would be picking 15th in the NBA Draft.

The first pick outside the lottery has had a massive range of outcomes, with players selected 15th ranging anywhere from the likely MVP to guys that are already out of the league. Here are the 15th draft selections of the last decade, broken into tiers.

Tier 1: Giannis Antetokounmpo (2013) and Kawhi Leonard (2013)

While both of these incredible talents fell out of the lottery in their respective drafts, it wasn’t for the same reason.

In the case of Antetokounmpo, many were surprised when he came off the board so early. It was known that he would be a project, as he hadn’t even left Greece until three weeks prior to the draft.

At only 18 years old, Antetokounmpo was the youngest player in his draft, but they felt that his 6’9”, 195-pound frame, (he has grown at least two inches), along with his point guard-like passing ability made him worth the investment.

Leonard was seen as more of a finished product, with draft analysts praising his strength and ability to guard multiple positions. He wasn’t expected to be able to score very well at the next level and was traded by the Pacers to the Spurs for point guard George Hill.

Tier 2: Maurice Harkless (2012) and Kelly Oubre (2015)

Another pair of wings, these guys are good enough players to make a difference.

Harkless has never been a big scorer, but he has played over 20 minutes per game in five of his seven seasons in the league. Harkless has carved out a role in Portland, where he remains an important player as they continue to take strides with playoff success.

Oubre was traded to the Washington Wizards on draft night, where he played the first three and a half seasons of his career. Oubre was a solid player for the Wizards, but clearly the third option behind John Wall and Bradley Beal.

After a midseason swap, Oubre flourished for the Phoenix Suns, averaging 16.9 points per game, attempting a career-high 5.2 threes per contest.

Tier 3: Troy Brown (2018), Justin Jackson (2017), and Juan Hernangomez (2016)

None of these players have proven to be truly impactful at the NBA level. They are still at the beginning of their careers so it would be foolish to write them off, but they haven’t yet proved themselves to be contributors.

Hernangomez actually started 25 games for the Denver Nuggets this season but has not been used in the playoffs, aside from garbage time minutes.

Jackson has shown shooting prowess in his two seasons but has already seen himself traded when the Dallas Mavericks decided to move on from Harrison Barnes and acquire the young forward.

Tory Brown has yet to see much action for the Washington Wizards, so I won’t even try to access his career thus far.

Tier 4: Larry Sanders (2010) and Adreian Payne (2014)

Larry Sanders was a solid player for the Milwaukee Bucks. The 7 foot center finished second in the NBA in blocks per game in 2012, and third in the voting for Most Improved Player.

After signing a $44 million contract extension, Sanders struggled with injuries throughout the 2013-2014 season, eventually missing the rest of the year with an orbital bone fracture.

Sanders after being suspended multiple times for violating the NBA’s marijuana policy decided to step away from the game of basketball. He then entered a program for anxiety, depression, and mood disorders.

Adreian Payne was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks, at a spot that many thoughts were a reach. It turns out they were correct, as Payne didn’t stick around with Atlanta for long.

He briefly played with the Orlando Magic in 2018 before being cut, after ESPN released a report regarding Payne’s involvement in a sexual assault case from 2010. Payne played in Greece in 2019.