After losing to the Charlotte Hornets last night, the Detroit Pistons are now alone with the second-worst record in the NBA.
Of course, this does not guarantee that they will get the 2nd pick in the draft, far from it, as the bottom three teams all have the same odds at a top-four pick and to get the top pick overall.
The Detroit Pistons have several needs heading into the offseason, but will use the NBA Draft to take the best player available.
Troy Weaver has shown his eye for talent this season, so I am confident he will make the right choice, though it is still unclear who the Pistons might regard as the top players from this draft.
For this Mock Draft, I used the current lottery positions without any mischief from the Lottery Gods, so the Detroit Pistons have the second pick.
We all know Cade Cunningham will likely go first and he would be nice fit with Killian Hayes, but who would the Pistons take if they got the second pick? Let’s take a look.
NBA Mock Draft 3.0: The Detroit Pistons get the 2nd pick
The Houston Rockets are likely to end up with the worst record in the NBA, as they are three games behind the Detroit Pistons with only eight games to go.
This doesn’t help their odds of getting a top-four pick or the number one overall but would guarantee them a top-five pick, which its he only reward of being the NBA’s worst team.
Though some people are trying to talk themselves out of Cunningham, he is still the consensus number one pick and the guy Houston will take if they end up here.
Houston is trying to kick off their rebuild with a superstar and Cunningham, who is from Texas, would be a home run for them.
It seems unfair that the Rockets should only be bad for half a season before they get a chance at another superstar but here we are.
Detroit Pistons: Mock Draft 3.0 pick No. 2
What would the Detroit Pistons do if they got the second pick? Tough to say.
In my opinion, Jalen Green might be the best fit for what the Pistons currently need, but when you are one of the worst teams in the league, need should not be a factor in the choice, you simply take he best player and most people think Mobley is that guy.
He would give the Detroit Pistons a chance at a top-ten defense next season, as he and Isaiah Stewart would be a great pairing around the rim defensively.
Mobley and Stewart’s versatility would give the Pistons a ton of lineup options, as well as a long and athletic team that would be difficult to match up against.
Stewart could play the five and allow Mobley to be more of a stretch four on offense, as he has shown the potential to step away from the rim and hit the NBA 3-point shot.
A starting five of Killian Hayes, Saddiq Bey, Jerami Grant, Evan Mobley and Isaiah Stewart would be lights-out defensively, as all of those players are long and can defend all over the floor. The Pistons would have one one the most switchable teams in the NBA and a foundation that could “do something big” as soon as next year.
As much as I love Green here, Mobley’s combination of size, defense and versatile offensive game might be too much to pass up.
Detroit Pistons: Mock Draft 3.0 pick No. 3
The Timberwolves have won four of their last five, which has dropped them a few spots from the league’s worst record that they held for most of the season.
This has to be driving Timberwolves’ fans insane, as they will have to give their pick to the Warriors if it drops out of the top three.
Minnesota has some talent already, so if they can add another top-3 talent to the roster, they could finally climb out of the hole they’ve been in as a franchise for the last 800 years or so.
The Wolves already have plenty of scoring with Karl-Anthony Towns, D’Angelo Russell and rookie Anthony Edwards, so Suggs would be the perfect addition, as he is an unselfish playmaker who will make all of these guys better.
This would probably be the ideal situation for Minnesota if they do not get the number one pick.
Detroit Pistons: Mock Draft 2.0 pick No. 4
The Magic need help pretty much everywhere after they blew up their team this season, trading away Aaron Gordon and Nikola Vucevic.
They would love to get a scoring guard to pair with Cole Anthony, who has had a good rookie season and looks like the point guard of the future.
Green is a guy who accomplished at both ends, can be an elite defender as well as a volume scorer, so would fit well on just about any team.
I am not so sure he’s not the second best player in this draft, so if the Magic could get him here, they’d be ecstatic.
The Magic have had some bad luck with injuries over the last few seasons and are hoping it balances out in the draft lottery.
Detroit Pistons: Mock Draft 3.0 pick No. 5
The Cavaliers are another team that needs another big upgrade in talent and would be absolutely ecstatic if they could land Kuminga with the 5th pick.
The Cavs have a good backcourt and some talented bigs but are thin on the wing, so Kuminga would slot right into their rotation.
With Sexton, Garland and Okoro already on board, adding a wing like Kuminga would give the Cavaliers a really nice core, especially if they are able to retain Jarrett Allen and finally find a trade partner for Kevin Love.
The Cavaliers, like the Detroit Pistons, are not far from being good and there is finally hope on the horizon, though many of their fans would disagree.
The top-five of this draft is considered a tier above the rest, so predicting picks 6-30 is tricky business.
Detroit Pistons: Mock Draft 3.0 pick No. 6
If you pretend to know what the Thunder will do in the NBA Draft you are fooling yourself.
The Thunder have the NBA’s youngest team, and though they have some intriguing talent, they are still a long way from being good.
The Thunder appear to be building around versatile players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Alekseq Pokusevski, who are both playmakers without a real position.
Barnes would give them another versatile player maker, as he often played more of a point-forward role at Florida State.
He would be an interesting get for them, as he is solid on both ends and would give them another dawg of a defender to go with Luguentz Dort.
There is also a really good chance that the Thunder would trade out of this spot if they don’t land in the top-five, as they need as much talent as they can get and love to horde draft picks.
Detroit Pistons: Mock Draft 3.0 pick No. 7
This is pretty much the best-case scenario for the Magic, as they get two picks in the top-ten and a chance to rebuild quickly, which is what they envisioned when they traded for this pick from the Bulls.
Jalen Johnson is one of the biggest wildcards of the draft, as he has top-five talent but there are some question marks about his attitude.
He has the size to be an impact wing on both ends, can defend and shoot the 3-point shot, so should be at least a solid 3-and-D wing for whoever takes him.
But he has the potential to be much more, which is why he won’t drop too far in this draft even though some teams are not thrilled about the way his season ended at Duke.
Anthony, Green and Johnson would be a solid trio to build around and Magic fans would have to be excited after such a disappointing season filled with injuries and trades.
Detroit Pistons: Mock Draft 3.0 pick No. 8
The Raptors are going to need a shooting guard to replace Powell and Keon Johnson fits the profile of a guy they would like.
Toronto is one of those teams who could be right back in the playoff picture next season if some things break right, or they might use this pick to kickstart a soft rebuild.
A lot will depend on what happens with Kyle Lowry, who could flee for a better team if the Raptors aren’t interested in keeping him around for another year.
Johnson is not going to replace Powell’s shooting but he is a good defender, which is something the Raptors have always liked at the guard position.
If Lowry leaves, Johnson could slot alongside VanVleet at guard and the Raptors would have a nice core of young veterans that could get them right back in contention.
Detroit Pistons: Mock Draft 3.0 pick No. 9
The Kings have one of the worst defenses in the history of the NBA this season, so what do they do in this draft? Double down on a shooter of course!
The Kings are one of the teams that are likely to shake things up this offseason with a trade or two. If they end up moving Harrison Barnes or Buddy Hield (or both) the Kings are going to need shooting to spread the floor for D’Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton.
This might be a bit of a reach and the smart move would probably be to go for a defender, but with a couple of good ones off the board already, the Kings will just go with the guy who fits a need.
The Kings rarely do the right thing so who knows what they might try here, but Kispert fills a couple of needs and would make it possible for them to shake up their roster and start over around Fox and Haliburton.
Detroit Pistons: Mock Draft 3.0 pick No. 10
The Wizards are one of the most difficult to predict teams in this draft, as they went from lottery contender to play-in contender with some red hot play down the stretch.
I would have bet my pinkie toes that Beal and Westbrook would not be on the team by now, but here they still are. Both are playing well and it looks like pairing that might work, especially if they can add the right players around them.
If they plan to trade one or both of them this offseason, then they might go for a guard here, but if the Wizards plan to compete with Beal and Westbrook (which now seems likely) they could go for another versatile forward to go with Hachimura and Avdija.
Wagner can defend a few spots, is a good playmaker and rebounder and would be a great glue-guy to go along with the stars they already have.
Detroit Pistons: Mock Draft 3.0 pick No. 11
The New Orleans Pelicans need shooters and defenders and Moody is a guy who could provide both.
He has enough size to defend the guard spots as well as the wing, so he would slot in well with Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson, who are not the greatest defenders.
The Pelicans could move on from Lonzo Ball and Eric Bledsoe in the offseason, so they will need more depth at guard.
Moody is a guy who can score from all over, rebounds well for his position and has good hands on defense.
The Pelicans are not far from being a good team, as they already have the upper tier young talent, but they need solid role players who can shoot and defend, so Moody would be nice get for them with the 11th pick.
Detroit Pistons: Mock Draft 3.0 pick No. 12
The Indiana Pacers have been one of the surprisingly disappointing teams this season as most though they would at least make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference.
They are another team who might look for a big shake up in the offseason and might try to move on from some of their larger contracts and start over.
The Pacers already have a bunch of shooting guards, but with the future of Caris LeVert up in the air, they will grab another one here in Bouknight.
Bouknight is one of the top scoring guards in this draft and would give them an instant injection of offense off the bench and some insurance for LeVert.
Bouknight could also be a replacement for Brogdon if the Pacers decide to trade the veteran in the offseason.
Detroit Pistons: Mock Draft 3.0 pick No. 13
The Spurs are likely to find themselves in the play-in tournament this season, so their draft position is one that could change if they end up clawing their way in.
The Spurs are better than expected and have some good young talent already, so they could go in a number of directions here.
The Spurs have always been fond of the versatile international big, so they will take a risk on Sengun, who is one of the most intriguing players in this draft as well as one of the youngest.
He is a guy they could potentially stash overseas or in the G-League for a year, but he is already a good scorer and rebounder for his age. He has a slight Tim Duncan vibe, as he is a skilled big who can shoot a little but does not project as a stretch-five.
Every team is looking for the next Nikola Jokic, the playmaking big who is perfect for the modern game and the Spurs might take a risk on one here.
Detroit Pistons: Mock Draft 3.0 pick No. 14
This might be a reach for the Warriors, and I could definitely see them trying to package this pick along with Wiggins to make a trade for a more suitable player.
With Thompson returning next season, the Warriors will be looking to contend for a title, so they could easily trade this pick for a veteran who is ready to play.
If not, I love Giddey for them.
The Warriors already missed out on both LaMelo Ball in the draft and Lonzo Ball at the trade deadline, so Giddey would give them a chance to finally get their big playmaking point guard.
Giddey is 6-foot-8 and is already a very good passer and ball handler, which would take some of the pressure off Stephen Curry.
He can rebound his position as well and would potentially give the Warriors a new version of their small-ball lineup that was so successful in the past.
Odds are that the Warriors trade this pick away but you never know.
Detroit Pistons: Mock Draft 3.0 pick No. 15
The Hornets are another team that I could see trading out of this spot, as they have young talent at nearly every position, are fighting for a playoff spot this season and hope to be right in the mix next season.
Jackson would give the Hornets another long and versatile big for LaMelo Ball to throw lobs to, and would solidify their interior defense, as he is one of the best shot blockers in the draft.
They already have a couple of young centers but neither of them project to be rim protectors, though fellow Wildcat Nick Richards could eventually get there.
The Hornets want to run and having a shot blocker will help them get out on fast breaks and let Ball do his thing.
Detroit Pistons: Mock Draft 3.0 pick No. 16
The Grizzlies could use a gritty defender to pair with Ja Morant and Mitchell is one of the best guard defenders in this draft.
He fits the profile of the type of player the Grizzlies like and would be a nice counterpart to some of the pieces they already have.
Memphis has built their team around defense and they already have a top-ten defense this season, so adding another guy like Mitchell makes sense.
But Mitchell would also improve their 3-point shooting off the bench, as he can knock them down. I love this pairing and think Mitchell and Morant would be great together, as they offer differing skillsets that complement one another nicely.
Detroit Pistons Mock Draft 3.0: Pick No. 17
Williams is a polarizing prospect who is probably going to need a few years before he is ready to play at the NBA level.
This makes him a good match for the Thunder, who are hoarding high-end but raw talent and probably won’t be good for a long time.
Williams didn’t’ put up big numbers at Stanford but he has tantalizing size and athleticism at 6-foot-8 and profiles as a 3-and-D wing who could eventually be more depending on how his shot develops.
You never know what the Thunder will do but it makes sense for them to grab the guy with the highest ceiling even if he might not be ready, as they won’t be either.
Detroit Pistons Mock Draft 3.0: Pick No. 18
The Boston Celtics have to be one of the most disappointing teams in the NBA, as they expected to be one of the top teams in the lousy East but are only the sixth seed.
There has been a lot of angry talk from the Celtics’ fans who are getting impatient and want to win after Danny Ainge has dangled success like a carrot in front of a donkey while sitting on a pile of draft assets that he never uses to make splashy trades.
They could go any number of ways here, including adding another shooter, though they probably hope Aaron Nesmith steps up in that area next season.
Jones would give them another athletic big who can run the floor, but unlike their other big guys, he projects as a guy who can step out and shoot the NBA 3-point shot, so he would give them a different element on offense to go along with their two star wings.
Detroit Pistons Mock Draft 3.0: Pick No. 19
The Hawks are one of the surprise teams this season and could go a number of directions with this pick.
They are a middling offense, so could try to grab another shooter, but their defense needs more help, which is why they could reach for a guy like Garuba, who is a defensive-minded forward who will come into the league ready to at least block shots and run the floor.
He has good hands and a long wingspan, so should be able to affect shots and give the Hawks a defender off the bench.
The Hawks could lose John Collins in free agency, which would be a big blow and while Garuba is not in his league as a scorer, he could pick up some of that slack on the defensive end, won’t need the ball in his hands to be effective and will hustle and play with the intensity that the Hawks sometime lack on defense.
Detroit Pistons Mock Draft 3.0: Pick No. 20
Don’t look now but the New York Knicks might be….gasp….. good. They are the 4th seed in the East, have won nine of ten and Julius Randle is playing like a legit MVP candidate.
Good times in the Big Apple.
Now the Knicks just need to fine-tune their roster and all teams could use more shooting, so they will grab one of the best shooters in the draft in Duarte, the senior from Oregon.
The Knicks will try to get someone who is ready to play now, so they could trade this pick or use it on an upperclassman like Duarte, who doesn’t have the highest ceiling but will come into the league ready to play.
Duarte shot over 42 percent on fairly high volume from long-range and that should translate to the NBA right away.
Detroit Pistons Mock Draft 3.0: Pick No. 21
The Rockets get this pick courtesy of the Portland Trail Blazers and will use it to grab one of the best rebounders in the draft.
Sharpe is a massive 265 lb. center who projects as possibly the best offensive rebounder in the draft.
The Rockets will have plenty of scoring and their bigs are all of the “stretch” variety, guys who run the floor but don’t necessarily defend very well or get after it on the boards.
Sharpe would give them them a big anchor for the defense and fits with some of the pieces they already have.
Detroit Pistons Mock Draft 3.0: Pick No. 22
The Lakers would be pretty happy if this happened and would be their reward for losing a bunch of games when LeBron James was hurt.
This a a pick they could definitely trade, especially if they can use it to get another veteran who can help them win now. The Lakers aren’t interested in developing talent but if Springer were here, they would consider it, as he does a lot of the things they need out of a guard.
Springer is a good defender and can shoot the 3-ball, which are pretty much the two requirements you need to meet to be a teammate of LeBron.
He would give them a replacement for Schroder if he leaves and might even make KCP expendable.
Detroit Pistons Mock Draft 3.0: Picks No. 23-26
The Knicks already got a shooter in the first round, now they add a pass-first point guard who would give them another playmaker.
This is another pick that I could see getting traded, especially if some rebuilding team wanted into the first round and had a veteran player to offer in return.
If the Rockets could add Cunningham, a rebounder in Sharpe and another scorer in Thomas, they would walk away from this draft very happy.
Thomas isn’t much of a defender but he is an absolute bucket, which we saw in the NCAA Tournament.
I could see some team trying to trade up for this pick if Thomas is still available, maybe even the Detroit Pistons, who might be able to use their second-rounders to trade up and get Thomas.
The Clippers would likely just take the best player available, though they do have some needs moving forward, namely to get more defense and 3-point shooting around their two stars.
Luke Kennard has been a disappointment and the Clippers would probably love to get out from Beverley’s contract, so taking Butler here may help both of those areas, as he can shoot, defend and would give them some youth for the future.
The 76ers will likely need a new shooting guard in the near future and Josh Christopher has the size and skillset to eventually replace Danny Green on the perimeter if his shot improves.
He is a fairly raw prospect but projects as a good perimeter defender.
Detroit Pistons Mock Draft 3.0: Picks No. 27-30
The Nets could use a shot blocker to eventually replace DeAndre Jordan and Queta is one of the best in the draft.
He is a controversial prospect, as he played for a small school and is a bit older at 21, but he can pass, rebound and defend the rim at 7-feet, so he would be a fit on the Nets.
The Nuggets could use a glue guy defender who can knock down 3-pointers to replace the one they let get away in Jerami Grant.
They don’t need playmakers as they already have two of the best in the league, so the Nuggets will go for Dosunmu, who can do a little bit of everything and will fit their culture.
The Suns would love to add another versatile winner to their team, and Ayayi fits the profile.
He is a tough defender, can do a little of everything and would help just about any team in the NBA off the bench.
He would fit well as a backup to both Chris Pau and Devin Booker.
The Jazz will build on their 3-point shooting, which is already near the top of the NBA. Murphy is a big shooting guard/small forward who projects as one of the best pure shooters in the draft, though he doesn’t do much else.
He would be a nice complement to the players they already have and would provide them with some instant scoring off the bench.