Here’s where Detroit Pistons rank on national NBA Top 100 lists

The Detroit Pistons are often disrespected by the national media, but they seem fair this year. Here’s where ESPN and SI ranked the Pistons.

It’s the point in the offseason where preseason rankings and lists are coming out as conversation starters.

Sometimes the lists are egregious with their slighting of players, as the city of Detroit has come to know over the years. But it shouldn’t be about market size, as Blake Griffin pointed out this summer, and, for individually-based lists, especially not team success.

But the trend appears to continue as Andre Drummond came in at 52nd on ESPN’s NBA Top 100 list. ESPN clarifies that there list is based on “which player will be better in 2019-20?”

For reference, the players immediately behind Drummond are Zach LaVine (55), Jaren Jackson Jr. (54) and Clint Capela (53). Ahead of him are Jaylen Brown (51), Lauri Markkanen (50), Klay Thompson (49) and Bojan Bogdanovic (48).

On Sports Illustrated’s list, Drummond ranks a more-respectable 36th. He’s directly ahead of Kristaps Porzingis (37), Jamal Murray (38) and Victor Oladipo (39). He’s directly behind Jayson Tatum (35), Devin Booker (34) and De’Aaron Fox (33).

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Griffin landed at 19th, which seems fair. He’s ahead of Kemba Walker (20), Chris Paul (21) and Bradley Beal (22). Al Horford, Draymond Green and LaMarcus Aldridge, respectively, are players directly ahead of him.

ESPN holds Griffin at 23rd on their list. That’s ahead of Mike Conley (24), Fox (25) and D’Angelo Russell (26). He’s behind Pascal Siakam (22), Jimmy Butler (21) and Donovan Mitchell (20).

Last year, Sports Illustrated included Reggie Jackson as their 97th player. Although he was more productive last season as a better shooter with less usage and more efficient when the ball was in his hands, he didn’t make either list. It’s probably a fair assessment.

These lists are meant to be conversation starters. ESPN’s list seems to be a little off in comparison to Sports Illustrated’s.

But the Pistons are better on paper than they were last year, which resulted in a 41-41 season and the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. Improving their roster through free agency and seeing the growth of nearly every Pistons player in Dwane Casey’s first season as head coach is more encouraging than anything.

Detroit is poised for big things and will, again, be out to prove the critics wrong.