The Detroit Pistons have been tanking away over the last ten games, only winning two of them and “gaining” ground in the standings against the other teams headed for the bottom.
The Pistons are now alone with the second-worst record in the NBA, just 1.5 games ahead of the Timberwolves, a game behind Rockets and three games behind the Orlando Magic.
This edition of the Mock Draft will feature some new teams, as the balance of power has shifted in both conferences. The Knicks and Hornets have climbed in the standings while the Heat and Celtics have fallen.
Of course, there is a lot of season left so there will undoubtedly be more movement before it is all said and done.
I spun the draft simulator just once for this particular mock draft and it ended with an interesting question, which is what will the Detroit Pistons do if they land the 3rd pick in the draft?
Let’s find out.
Houston once again jumped to the top of the list, which would be typical, as they’ve only been bad for one season and seem to have a lot more luck than the Pistons or any other team on this list.
The Rockets would absolutely love to add Cade Cunningham, as would everyone else, as they have pretty much emptied the cupboards and are starting over after trading Victor Oladipo and James Harden for practically nothing.
The Rockets will be tough competition for the overall worst record, as they guys the have left don’t seem to be too interested in being there.
If they get the top pick, they will use it on Cunningham, who is still the consensus number one even after getting bounced early from the NCAA Tournament.
Detroit Pistons: Mock Draft 2.0 pick No. 2
The Washington Wizards jumped up to second position, up three spots, which would potentially push the Timberwolves out of the top-four.
The Wizards potentially lost Bradley Beal to injury in a recent win over the Pistons, and if he is out, they might not win another game this season as he represents a sizable portion of their offense.
The Wizards would love to end up with this pick and could go a number of directions. They could take one of the point guards, as they could desperately use an upgrade of talent and an injection of youth in that department.
But they could also use a young center to pair with Rui Hachimura as the foundation of their rebuild, especially if they plan to trade Beal in the offseason, which is a possibility.
To be honest, no one knows what Washington is up to, as they are bad, but have been steadfast in their refusal to admit it, trade Beal and start over. Beal apparently likes the city but I can’t imagine he likes all of this losing, so he will continue to be a hot name in the offseason when it comes to trades.
If he is significantly injured, it would be a big blow to Washington, who may have waited too long to trade him
Mobley has been an beast of late and would give the Wizards a rim protector and versatile offensive big man who would fit well with Beal in the pick-and-roll and potentially improve the Wizards’ woeful defense.
Detroit Pistons: Mock Draft 2.0 pick No. 3
There is a growing number of Pistons’ fans who think Green should be the guy regardless of where they pick in the draft and they have an argument.
It was Green who was often ranked as the #1 player in his draft class coming out of high school and might still be had he gone to college instead of to the G-League.
Green is a big shooting guard at 6-foot-6 who has good length and is one of the best athletes in this class.
He plays above the rim, can defend the entire perimeter and has an elite first step that can get him to the hoop against most defenders. Add in an improving 3-point shot and you have a guy who is going to be a handful on both ends.
He absolutely fits the profile of what the Pistons are building, as he is a willing defender with a high motor who has plus athleticism and can play all over the floor.
The Pistons would love to add a scorer next to Killian Hayes, who projects to be more of a facilitator, and Green would give the Detroit Pistons a huge and versatile backcourt.
The idea of Green is really starting to grow on me and given how he plays the game, I wouldn’t be surprised if the same were true for Troy Weaver, who clearly has a profile of the type of player he likes.
The Pistons already have a lot of guards but they are not in the point in their rebuild where they can worry about fit or position, they just have to take the top talent, and Green may be it.
Some Pistons’ fans would be devastated if the Pistons fell out of the top-two but it might end up being a blessing if they get Green.
Detroit Pistons: Mock Draft 2.0 pick No. 4
The Kings jumped up seven spots in this simulation and would be absolutely thrilled if this actually happened.
They got one of the steals of the draft in Tyrese Haliburton in the last draft but are still terrible and need help all over.
They could easily move Harrison Barnes in the offseason and have already been shopping Marvin Bagley III, so it makes sense to take Kuminga as a potential replacement and a guy who fits well with Haliburton and De’Aaron Fox.
The Kings are a mess and will likely have a much different roster by next season.
Kuminga may end up being the best overall athlete in this class and has plus length with a 6-foot-11 wingspan.
He and Jalen Green will be the first high-level prospects to go straight to the G-League and it will be interesting if it gives them a developmental advantage over guys who were only playing against college-level competition.
Detroit Pistons: Mock Draft 2.0 pick No. 5
This is pretty much the worst-case scenario for the Timberwolves, whose pick is protected in the top-3 but conveys to the Warriors if it falls out of that range. The Warriors would love to add another playmaker and eventual replacement for Steph Curry and Suggs would be perfect.
He could play as the primary ball handler or off ball, has solid defensive chops and has the size to play with both Curry and Klay Thompson when he returns.
Suggs has probably improved his draft stock in the tournament, as his undefeated Gonzaga Bulldogs have now reached the Final Four behind his all-around strong play.
He is the type of guard who can do a bit of everything from scoring, passing, rebounding and defending and would really fit onto just about any roster.
The Warriors desperately need someone who can make plays other than Draymond Green and Stephen Curry and Suggs could do that while being mentored by two of the league’s best guards.
The Warriors could reach for someone like Scottie Barnes here but this draft has a consensus top-five that is a tier above the rest, so they will likely just take whoever is left if they get this chance.
Detroit Pistons: Mock Draft 2.0 pick No. 6
The Orlando Magic dropped two spots in this simulation, which seems unlikely given what they just did at the deadline.
They traded both Nikola Vucevic and Aaron Gordon, so the Magic aren’t likely to win too many more games, especially with all of the injuries they have suffered.
They need help everywhere but already have a couple of young guards, so it makes sense to take a versatile forward like Barnes who can fill a number of roles, including playing some hybrid point guard.
Barnes is solid at just about everything, and would be a good start for yet another Magic rebuild if they fall out of the top five.
Barnes has often been compared to Draymond Green for his ability to defend multiple positions and make plays from the forward position.
He has plus length, can run the floor and though the Magic would love to stay in the top five, he would be a good consolation prize if they don’t.
Detroit Pistons: Mock Draft 2.0 pick No. 7
Cleveland dropped a spot in this simulation, though they are another team that will likely be even worse after the trade deadline, so expect them to start losing.
They have a good duo of guards but need help just about everywhere else, especially if they lose Jarrett Allen in free agency.
Johnson would give them another solid defensive player to put with Isaac Okoro, who is already very good on that end.
He also projects as a guy who will eventually hit the NBA 3-pointer, so the Cavs can start over, building around Johnson, their young guards and Okoro.
Cleveland is another team that needs help all over and could be very active on draft day, either moving up if they fall in the draft like this, or moving down to get multiple picks if they land in the top-2.
Johnson should be a solid 3-and-D wing though his ceiling isn’t as high as some others in the top-ten.
Detroit Pistons: Mock Draft 2.0 picks No. 8
The Raptors just traded away sharpshooter Norman Powell so would probably like to find a young shooting guard to take his place.
Moody has been flying up draft boards lately after a strong end to the season. He has good size for the position, can defend and shoot and would be a nice addition alongside Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby.
Moody may have helped his draft position even more with a strong tournament, as he was very good for Arkansas.
He has the size and the skillset to be a force at shooting guard and may end up going higher now that teams have seen what he can do on the big stage.
There are some questions about his playmaking but at the very least he should be a solid shooter and defender from the two-guard position.
Detroit Pistons: Mock Draft 2.0 pick No. 9
The Thunder have about 800 draft picks over the next few seasons so you never know what they might do. In this simulation they ended up with the 9th pick and use it on international center Alperun Sengun, who is a guy most fans have probably never heard of.
Sengun is only 18-years-old but would give them another tall, versatile big who can pass, shoot and block shots to go with Aleksej Pokusevski, who has quietly had a good season for the Thunder.
The Thunder keep outperforming expectations even though they are one of the youngest teams in the NBA. Taking a guy like Sengun here would indicate that they are not going to be trying to compete for titles anytime soon but are playing the long game.
The league is shifting towards big men who are far more skilled than the bangers we used to see in the past and Sengun fits that mold.
If they want to build around two versatile young bigs, then I could see them taking a flyer on Sengun here.
Detroit Pistons: Mock Draft 2.0 pick No. 10
This pick would come via Chicago and the Orlando Magic are praying that one of their two lottery picks will end up in the top-five.
Since they already drafted a defensive-minded forward with their first pick, the Magic will try to grab a scorer with the next and Bouknight could be one of the best pure scorers from this draft.
He’s not a great long-range shooter but can fill it up from just about everywhere else, averaging 18.7 points in his second season with UCONN. He’s also a good rebounder for his size and would give the Magic another versatile player to build around.
The Magic are going to be rebuilding forever it seems and no one is really sure what direction they are headed right now. I could definitely see them trying to package their two picks to move up in the draft if they fall this far, as Bouknight is a nice prospect but not a cornerstone player by any means.
The kid can score though and may end up being a Donovan Mitchell type who was misread because he didn’t have the strongest 3-point shot.
Detroit Pistons: Mock Draft 2.0 pick No. 11
The New Orleans Pelicans have won a few games of late and could end up clawing their way into the playoffs if Zion Williamson keeps playing like point-guard Shaq.
The Pels desperately need shooting, especially after shipping out J.J. Redick and Nicolo Melli and they could use a backup behind Brandon Ingram.
Kispert could provide both and has good size for the position, though he won’t do much to help the Pelicans’ terrible defense.
Kispert is one of the most interesting players in the draft, as he clearly doesn’t have as high a ceiling as some but has proven himself to be a winner with easily recognizable NBA skills.
Teams are generally loathe to take older prospects this high in the draft, but there are a lot of teams with really young rosters already, and Kispert is one of those guys who could come in a play right away.
Will teams value leadership and winning above tantalizing athleticism? This will be an interesting test case for that debate.
Detroit Pistons: Mock Draft 2.0 pick No. 12
The Pacers have been a disappointment this season and I thought they would have clawed their way back into the playoff picture by now.
Rumor has it that they were shopping both Malcolm Brogdon and Domantas Sabonis at the deadline, so the writing for the rebuild may be on the wall.
Wagner is a versatile forward who can play a couple of spots, is a good playmaker and can score from all three levels.
He is another player who helped his case by playing well in the NCAA Tournament, as his Michigan team came very close to the Final Four.
The Pacers have long been a team that values basketball I.Q. and fit above all else, so Wagner would be a good choice here.
He is the type of “do-it-all” forward that teams are looking for these days and he could end up being one of the better passers from this draft.
Detroit Pistons: Mock Draft 2.0 pick No. 13
Golden State has lost four in a row and finds themselves with two picks in the lottery in this simulation. This would probably be the best-case scenario for Golden State, as they can add more young talent to James Wiseman, get solid backups for the Splash Brothers while developing their possible replacements.
Springer is a big guard who can play either spot, defend on the perimeter and knock down 3-point shots at a high rate.
His stock has been rising of late, and teams like his versatility and the fact that he knocked down 43 percent of his 3-point shots, albeit on a low volume.
Springer was not the best facilitator and turned the ball over too much for his usage, so he could end up being more of a combo guard than a point guard in the NBA.
He has the size to defend both positions and could probably be a 3-and-D type guard off someone’s bench right away.
Detroit Pistons: Mock Draft 2.0 pick No. 14
The Grizzlies would love to add some more talent at the guard position and Keon Johnson would be a nice fit alongside Ja Morant, as he is a tough defender and rebounder.
The Grizzlies could also try to add another impact big man but there are few in this draft, so they will just take the best player available, whoever they feel that is.
Johnson would give them a young defensive project to develop and he has the size to defend multiple spots in the NBA.
It makes sense to keep adding these types of players around Ja Morant, who is a bit undersized and not the greatest defender.
Like his teammate Springer, Johnson needs to take better care of the ball but he won’t be asked to do as much ball handling in the NBA, especially if he is on Memphis.
Johnson’s shooting is also a big question mark, but he will be able to defend right away, so teams will take a risk that his shot will come around.
Detroit Pistons: Mock Draft 2.0 pick No. 15
The Atlanta Hawks have been trying to add another guard to put with Trae Young for awhile now.
They need a guy who can handle some of the defensive duties that Young cannot, is tough, and can play both with or without the ball.
The Hawks do already have a bunch of shooting guards but none of them really fit this profile and rumor has it they were shopping Cam Reddish at the deadline so his time in Atlanta may be limited.
Butler is a Junior but has proven himself to be an accurate high-volume 3-point shooter and tenacious perimeter defender who would complement what the Hawks already have.
The Hawks are a weird team, as they have a lot of talent and added veteran players in an effort to win now which has had some limited success, as they are the sixth seed in the East right now but still have a losing record.
The Hawks are one of those teams that could make a big leap soon but if they don’t, people are going to start to question what they are doing.
Detroit Pistons: Mock Draft 2.0 pick No. 16
As someone who absolutely hates the Celtics, this season has been fun to watch. Not only have the Detroit Pistons beaten them, but the Celtics are struggling which has actually put a little heat under Danny Ainge, who once again claimed to have “almost” landed a big star at the deadline.
The Celtics don’t have any glaring needs, but outside of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, don’t have any really star potential either.
They could go any direction here but taking either a guard to eventually replace Kemba Walker or another big man makes some sense.
Sharpe doesn’t have the highest ceiling in the draft but he has the size and skillset to come in and play right away and make an impact.
He is a good rebounder, especially on the offensive end and passes pretty well for a big man. He could eventually be a more of a stretch-five who can step away from the hoop and make plays.
The Celtics could use an injection of rebounding and playmaking but if they keep falling in the standings, expect a bigger shakeup.
Detroit Pistons Mock Draft 2.0: Pick No. 17
Williams is a high-ceiling prospect out of Stanford who is going to need some time to develop, so what better team to take him than the OKC Thunder who are trying to be good sometime in the next 25-30 years?
Williams has great size at 6-foot-8 but has yet to really show a tangible NBA skill, so teams are projecting with him more than some others.
He is not a good shooter, passer or rebounder yet and he turns the ball over too much, so what exactly is he doing in the first round?
Teams are all looking for the next big wing who can shoot and defend and Williams projects as a guy who will eventually be able to do those things.
He isn’t as polished as some others and will be a classic “talent vs. production” type of draft pick. He has shot less than 30 percent from long range on a fair volume but shoots nearly 80 percent from the line, which usually translates to a better shot eventually.
Detroit Pistons Mock Draft 2.0: Pick No. 18
First off, I’d hate to see what would happen if the Knicks were actually good. They are a middling team in the awful East this year and their fans are acting like they’ve won back-to-back titles.
If the Knicks are ever good for real, Twitter might become more unbearable than it already is.
Terrance Shannon Jr. is a big shooting guard who doesn’t have one standout skill but can do a little bit of everything.
He is not a great playmaker but rebounds well for his position and can defend the perimeter, which are two things the Knicks could use.
There are some scouts who question whether his 3-point shooting will translate to the NBA but Shannon Jr. would give the Knicks another long guard who can defend on the outside, which is a valuable commodity in a league dominated by perimeter players.
Detroit Pistons Mock Draft 2.0: Pick No. 19
The Hornets are one of the surprise teams in the East and I for one was disappointed to see rookie LaMelo Ball get injured, as it would have been fun to see him this young team in the playoffs.
They might still get there, and if they do, would love the chance to get a guy like Kai Jones this late.
Jones can fly above the rim, has good length and will likely end up being more of a rim runner/stretch-four in the NBA than he was in college.
He definitely needs to fill out more to run with NBA centers, but he projects as a guy who should be able to block shots and eventually step away from the hoop.
He shot a good percentage from 3-point range on low volume but didn’t rebound very well for his size. Jones is a fairly raw prospect who doesn’t have a ton of experience, so this would be an upside pick that will need some time.
He fits well with what Charlotte already has and would look good catching lobs from Ball next season.
Detroit Pistons Mock Draft 2.0: Pick No. 20
The San Antonio Spurs would love it if Jackson fell this far, as he definitely has lottery talent that needs some coaching and development.
Jackson projects as one of the best shot blockers in this draft class, a guy with a massive 7-foot-2 wingspan who swatted 4.5 blocks per-36 minutes in college.
He is likely to be a hustle/energy/shotblocking guy when he enters the league, but if he can ever develop a shot, he has a similar frame and game to Bam Adebayo.
The Spurs would love his energy and defense right away and would be the ideal teal to get the most from his talents.
He projects as one of the better defending bigs in the draft and does shoot 70 percent from the free-throw line, so there is hope that he can develop into more over time.
Detroit Pistons Mock Draft 2.0: Pick No. 21
The Knicks are definitely in need of a playmaking point guard and rumor has it that they were trying everything to get Lonzo Ball at the deadline.
Giddey is like a poor man’s Lonzo, as he has good size, can pass, is a plus-rebounder with question marks around his shot.
Giddey is a highly skilled guy with good hands who can already run the pick-and-roll and has some crafty moves once he gets into the lane.
He has improved on defense but that will be the big question mark coming into the NBA. Will he be able to defend NBA guards?
Even though he is tall, he does not have long arms and has yet to show much of a long-range shot, which is holding him back as a prospect.
But Giddey can make plays and is a slick passer, which the Knicks could definitely use.
Detroit Pistons Mock Draft 2.0: Pick No. 22
The Houston Rockets are officially tanking after their historic losing streak and could very well jettison John Wall before next season if they can find a taker.
Either way, Cooper would be a good choice here, as he is one of the best playmakers in the draft and will be a solid backup in the NBA in that role.
He is not very tall but has elite quickness and a nose for the ball, as he grabs 4.3 rebounds per game from the point guard position.
But his strength is getting into the lane and finishing or setting up teammates and he could eventually be a lighting-in-a-bottle type scorer and facilitator off the bench.
Cooper’s draft stock is hurt by his jumper, which he has not hit consistently so far, but if he can develop one he could be a nice scorer in the NBA.
The Rockets need help just about everywhere and could look like a completely different team by the time the season kicks off next year, especially if they end up trading John Wall.
Houston is a team to watch on draft day, as they can draw free agents don’t want to be bad for long and will be looking for a star to build around.
Detroit Pistons Mock Draft 2.0: Picks No. 23-26
The Nuggets always seem to find late value and will look to add someone who can step in and contribute right away.
Duarte is one of the older players in the draft but has the size and shooting to be an impact 3-an-D guard right away and would fit well next to Jamal Murray.
The Rockets could secure their backcourt of the future by taking Thomas here. He is polarizing prospect who could end up going much higher after a huge NCAA tournament.
Thomas is an absolute bucket but doesn’t shoot the long range shot particularly well for a guy who takes so many and doesn’t project as much of a defender.
If his 3-pointer comes around he could be one of the top scorers from this draft.
The Lakers definitely need an injection of youth but their window to win with LeBron and AD is rapidly closing, so they also need guys who can contribute who aren’t making much money.
Mitchell could be a cheap replacement for Dennis Shroder and can knock down the 3-point shot, which is something you always want around LeBron.
The Clippers could look to find a replacement for their aging backup point guards and Mann has good size for the position. He can rebound, make plays and shoot 3-pointers, which are all things the Clippers need around the veterans they already have.
Detroit Pistons Mock Draft 2.0: Picks No. 27-30
Philly could use a versatile guard to add to their roster and Christopher projects as a guy who can do a little bit of everything.
He can already defend and rebound, has good size although there are some questions about his long-range shooting at the next level.
The Brooklyn Nets don’t need much of anything considering they have already built a superteam but they definitely don’t need scoring.
Queta is one of the best shot blockers in this draft and is a solid rebounder, which is all he would ever be asked to do in Brooklyn.
The Suns are one of the surprise teams of the NBA and will have most of their team back for next season.
They already have plenty of skill guys and scoring, so they could use a versatile wing who can run the floor and defend. Look for teams like the Detroit Pistons to use their second-round picks to try and move up for this pick.
The Jazz would love to add a versatile, tough and smart guard next to Donovan Mitchell. Ayayi fits the profile, and is a winner who has learned to play a secondary role on a very talented Gonzaga team.