Detroit Pistons history: 10 random players from the 2010’s

Detroit Pistons: Henry Ellenson was one of Detroit’s all-time worst draft picks

Henry Ellenson (2016-2019)

As the Detroit Pistons’ 18th overall pick, Ellenson was viewed as a developmental project — a 6-foot-10 big man with a willingness to shoot.

Ellenson never lived up to that mark and struggled to contribute. That outcome isn’t unexpected for a mid-first round pick, except that the following three picks were Malik Beasley, Caris LeVert, and DeAndre Bembry.

Ellenson moved on to the Knicks and the Nets but isn’t out of the league completely. He is currently on the Raptors 905.

Zaza Pachulia (2018-2019)

Zazaaaa!

A player who was okay to have on your team but much worse to play against. Pachulia was a traditional big man with a mean streak. Most infamously he was involved in an accidental (so he claims) close-out collision that sidelined Kawhi Leonard in the 2017 playoffs.

Following two championships with the Warriors, Pachulia spent the last year of his career in Detroit backing up Andre Drummond. He appeared in 68 games as a minute-filler and hardly anything more.

Pachulia was not a star but is the most recent example of an NBA mainstay who spent their least productive, final years with the Detroit Pistons.

The Detroit Pistons are hoping this cycle ends soon and that we won’t be making another list like this in 2030.