The Detroit Pistons are headed towards a top pick, so though we are only nearing the midpoint of the season, it’s never to early to predict who they might get. We did a way-too-early mock draft of the lottery if the season were to end today.
Obviously, there is still plenty of time for things to change. Some of these teams will play their way out of the lottery while others will surely tank their way in, but it appears that the bottom 3-4 teams are pretty much locked into being terrible.
To be fair, I only spun the lottery simulator one time and the Detroit Pistons did not get the number one pick, which would be disappointing but something we need to prepare for, as even if they are in the bottom three, they still only have a 14 percent chance of getting the number one overall.
The way Cade Cunningham is playing right now, every team in the NBA would like to add him to the roster and he is separating himself from the pack.
Just because the Detroit Pistons don’t get the number one pick doesn’t mean they won’t end up with Cunningham, as they could certainly trade up depending on who does end up with that coveted pick.
Here is our first, way-to-early-you-idiot mock draft of the season.
In our first simulation the Houston Rockets jumped up to the number one spot which would be typical.
Of course a team that has no state-income tax, can draw free agents and has been bad for exactly one season deserves this. Ugh.
Right now Cunningham is looking like the pick no matter who gets it, as he has the size and skill to dominate on both ends of the floor.
Detroit Pistons Mock Draft: Picks 2-3
There has been a lot of talk about who the Detroit Pistons would take if they don’t get the number one overall pick.
The answer to this is easy: the best player.
The Pistons are a rebuilding team that needs talent all over the floor, so they should take the best possible player regardless of “fit.” If they think that player is Jalen Suggs, then you take him, but if they think it’s someone like Evan Mobley or Jonathan Kuminga, then that is the right call.
Killian Hayes has the size to play off the ball or even on the wing, Saddiq Bey is versatile, as is Jerami Grant, so the Pistons don’t have to draft for need, they have to draft for talent.
Suggs is the best player on the best team and has the size, playmaking and defense to fit in with just about anyone.
Some Pistons’ fans are also leery about taking a center here, especially as the league seems to be done with them for the most part and the last one we drafted ended in years of mediocrity.
I trust Troy Weaver’s eye for talent and that the Detroit Pistons will do the right thing and just take the best player available, which right now, is Jalen Suggs.
The Kings are still horrible (what is new?) but already have a bunch of guards and wings, so taking Mobley makes a whole lot of sense.
He is a guy who has all of the skills to be a modern big, though the Kings have a bad habit of choosing the wrong guy at this spot.
He fits well with the young guys they already have and would give them an influx of talent at a spot where they need it.
Detroit Pistons Mock Draft: Picks 4-6
The Warriors would love if things went this way, as the pick they are owed from Minnesota is top-3 protected, so them dropping to four would be a big win for the Warriors.
They could go in a number of directions, as they are good enough to make the playoffs now but still have to have an eye for the future.
Jalen Green was the number one ranked shooting guard in the country before he decided to join the G-League and has the size and scoring ability to eventually be a replacement for Klay Thompson.
The rich get richer as the Warriors are somehow able to win now while still hoarding young talent and now they have two guys to build around in James Wiseman and Green.
The Magic are a rebuilding team and need help all over the place. After a hot start they have suffered a ton of injuries and are headed for a top pick.
In this case, they grab Kuminga from the G-League, which would probably prompt them to trade Aaron Gordon, as he is currently out with injury and may not be a part of the long-term plans.
Kuminga and Cole Anthony would be a good start for their rebuild.
The Cavs dropped a few spots in this simulation an it’s about time, as they have had their share of lottery luck over the years.
The Cavs already have a pretty good young core built around guards and Jarrett Allen, so if they could add a combo forward who can rebound and defend like Jalen Johnson, then they would be happy.
Detroit Pistons Mock Draft: Picks 7-10
This is where the draft gets much tougher to predict, as some of these teams probably won’t be in the lottery or at least not this high.
OKC has been hoarding young talent and picks for years now and will just take the best player available regardless of position because that is what they do.
Barnes is a good playmaker for his size and has the defensive versatility to fit in just about anywhere.
Whether the Wizards trade Bradley Beal now or in the future, the writing is on the wall, so it makes sense for them to take a shooting guard to replace him.
Bouknight is one of the top scorers in the draft, though he isn’t much of a playmaker nor a top defender.
The Pelicans are definitely one team who could play their way out of the lottery and if they didn’t might use this pick in a big trade to bring back another star.
They don’t really need to add anymore young talent unless they can vault into the top five, but if they do, it makes sense to take forwards as they have little depth on the wing behind Brandon Ingram.
Atlanta has plenty of guys who can score but need some grittiness and toughness on the wing that Wagner could potentially provide.
He can rebound, make plays, block shots and wouldn’t need the ball in his hands much to be effective, which its he type of player Atlanta needs.
Detroit Pistons Mock Draft: Picks 11-14
This is another team that I do not expect to be in the lottery once the season is over, as the Pacers are much better than their current record.
Kispert is a senior but the guy can score and he fits the profile of the type of player the Pacers like in the draft.
The Hornets already have a nice core of young guys and may take a swing at a home run pick with Sengun, who is young but has already shown himself to be a versatile offensive player who can block shots and get rebounds.
There are a lot of possible fits here but the Hornets already have good shooters, young wings and their point guard of the future, so it makes sense to take a risk on an unknown.
Moody has nice size for the position and would add some defense and rebounding next to Ja Morant in the backcourt or off the bench.
He fits the profile of the type of players the Grizzlies like, as he is versatile and can rebound and defend at multiple spots.
The Knicks would be ecstatic if the pick they are owed from Dallas ends up in the lottery, as they couldn’t have been expecting that coming into the season.
I feel like Dallas will eventually start winning and not have this pick, but right now this is how it stands. The Knicks need help all over but would love to add some more guard depth to replace Derrick Rose.
The Detroit Pistons are still holding out for a number one pick and fans won’t be happy if this is how it works out, but if they can stay in the top-four, they should be able to add impact talent to their promising young core.