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Five Transactions that Explain the Current Detroit Pistons

By Sean Murphy

BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 22: Luke Kennard smiles with Adam Silver after being the 11th overall selected by the Detroit Pistons at the 2017 NBA Draft on June 22, 2017 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 22: Luke Kennard smiles with Adam Silver after being the 11th overall selected by the Detroit Pistons at the 2017 NBA Draft on June 22, 2017 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons Luke Kennard and Bruce Brown. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

3. The Pistons draft Luke Kennard; Donovan Mitchell is drafted one pick later

Before you go in the comments and call me a Luke Kennard hater, let me clarify that he is one of the best prospect on the Pistons roster.

He is a good young player who has shown flashes of being a great scorer in this league, and his play style only is becoming more valuable in the NBA. The problem, however, is that this draft pick is rather symbolic of the woes the Pistons have experienced in the NBA draft.

The Pistons have made a habit of drafting poor to good players when there has been significantly better talent available after their pick.

There are such examples of drafting Darko Milicic in 2003 when three all star players (Chris Bosh, Carmelo Anthony, and Dwyane Wade) were all available, drafting Brandon Knight in 2011 with Kemba Walker, Klay Thompson, and Kawhi Leonard all being available.

Also, drafting Stanley Johnson in 2015 with Devin Booker being available as well. The Pistons are not the only team that misses on these players, and drafting with hindsight is always way easier, but this is a pattern that has plagued the Pistons for almost twenty years.

Luke Kennard has the chance to be an impact player in the NBA, but the fact remains that Donovan Mitchell has simply been a better player. He has made an impact in Utah that has seen an all star appearance and success in the NBA playoffs, while Kennard has struggled to stay healthy in his first three seasons with shoulder and knee injuries.

Only time will tell if this pick was a mistake, but in the short sampling we have seen, the odds are Detroit would redo this pick if given the chance.

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