Here’s how the Detroit Pistons could begin their rebuild
Step two: tanking
As I said earlier, this is the hardest part of the tanking process. Fans don’t love losing but if you’re as transparent as the Sixers were, the fans would most likely understand as the Sixers are now Eastern Conference contenders after going 47-199 during Hinkie’s tenure in Philadelphia.
Just for reference, the 76ers went 51-31 last season with a lineup featuring two of Hinkie’s picks, Embiid and Simmons, and had two players that were traded for using picks and players amassed during Hinkie’s fire sale from 2013-2016.
Once the Pistons sell off their better players and have a worse roster to face their scarily tough post All-Star break schedule, they will start to lose games. Hypothetically that would result in the Pistons winning around 30 games this season. A record of 30-52 would’ve landed Detroit the 6th best odds at the first overall pick, which would give them a 37.2% chance at a top 4 pick, including a 9% shot at the first overall pick.
pistons re-draft. Who the Pistons should have drafted since 2004. light
In the top four picks there is almost always a budding superstar, and unfortunately usually a bust as well.
The good picks in the top four since 2006 have been LaMarcus Aldridge (No. 2, 2006), Kevin Durant (No. 2, 2007), Al Horford (No. 3, 2007), Mike Conley (No. 4, 2007), Derrick Rose (No. 1, 2008), Russell Westbrook (No. 4, 2008), Blake Griffin (No. 1, 2009), James Harden (No. 3, 2009), John Wall (No. 1, 2010), Kyrie Irving (No. 1, 2011), Anthony Davis (No. 1, 2012), Bradley Beal (No. 3, 2012), Victor Oladipo (No. 2, 2013), Andrew Wiggins (No. 1, 2014),
Joel Embiid (No. 3, 2014), Aaron Gordon (No. 4, 2014), Karl-Anthony Towns (No. 1, 2015), D’Angelo Russell (No. 2, 2015), Kristaps Porzingis (No. 4, 2015), Ben Simmons (No. 1, 2016), Brandon Ingram (No. 2, 2016), Jayson Tatum (No. 3, 2017), Luka Doncic (No. 3, 2018), and most likely Zion Williamson (No. 1, 2019), and Ja Morant (No. 2, 2019).
In the top four picks since 2006, there have been 25 great picks, 20 role players, and 11 busts. Those role players could be reaches but most are solid players on rosters currently. That means out of 56 possible selections, you will select an all-star 44.6% of the time.
Where are the picks from the last 10 years?. light. Pistons draft history
Looking forward to this seasons draft, it’s a guard dominated class. Outside of Memphis’ James Wiseman and USC’s Onyeka Okongwu, and Georgia’s Anthony Edwards the top of the draft board is dominated by point guards. One of Wiseman and Edwards are likely to go number one with Wiseman looking more likely due to the Warriors’ struggles and need for a center.
That leaves players like LaMelo Ball, Cole Anthony, and Tyrese Maxey to be around during the Pistons hypothetical selection. With the Pistons having a potential star in Doumbouya already on the roster the Pistons should select the best available point guard on the board. If the Pistons can’t select Edwards,
I think they should target North Carolina’s Cole Anthony as he can be an effective player on both ends of the court. With that poor of a roster the Pistons would most likely have another top pick in 2021, a one-and-done class headlined by Evan Mobley, Jalen Green, Jalen Johnson, and Isaiah Todd.