The Detroit Pistons season hasn’t gone as planned. Instead, the 2020 NBA Draft could add a piece for a bright future, gaining a valuable asset.
After a couple days filled with trade rumors between the Pistons and Suns, talks stalled and the Pistons went on to win 116-108, which changed their draft position.
Talks stalled involving Luke Kennard to the Suns for a first-round pick during the game and Phoenix went on its way to its next destination. As for the 2020 NBA Draft, the Pistons dropped a spot to eighth in the Tankathon standings.
Three teams are grouped within a half-game of each other. The Wizards (17-32) and Pistons (19-34) are even in the standings. The Bulls (19-33) are the third team. All are looking up to the top-seeded Warriors (12-40).
Elsewhere, the Hawks beat the Timberwolves to drop a game for sole possession of third. The Warriors and Cavaliers both lost to remain unchanged atop the Tankathon standings, respectively.
The Daily Tank
Since trade talks have fallen through, we’ll focus solely on the Pistons pick. In their new position, the Pistons pick now has a 26.3% chance at a top-4 pick and 6% chance at the No. 1 pick.
In one of the most surprising simulations we’ve done so far, the Pistons landed the top pick on three separate simulations. They also fell to 10th twice, which shows the variance of how the eighth spot. The average draft selection was 6.3.
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Things will change as the NBA trade deadline passes, with the Pistons trading away Andre Drummond and thinning out their frontcourt. Derrick Rose‘s minutes could also be limited with the acquisition of Brandon Knight.
That trade will certainly impact the standings moving forward as the Pistons drop in talent overall and teams around them add pieces.
Friday’s slate of games features two that will impact The Daily Tank. New Orleans is tied for 11th and visits the Chicago Bulls, who are ninth and a half-game from Detroit in the standings. The other game of significant impact is the Knicks, winners of two straight and fourth in Tankathon standings, playing the Magic, which currently hold the eight seed in the East.
Orlando (22-29) is 2-8 over its last 10 games, which has pulled the Pistons within four games of the Eastern Conference playoffs. But trading away Drummond likely ends any shot Detroit had at pursuing the playoffs.