The Detroit Pistons finished with the second-worst record in the NBA so have the maximum possible odds at a top-four pick or the number one pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.
But the Detroit Pistons could also drop to 6th, which is what a lot of fans expect to happen after the Pistons have had zero luck in the lottery in the past.
It would be on brand for the Pistons to get the 6th pick in what is considered a five-man draft, so I am going to prepare for the worst and assume this is what is going to happen.
As catastrophic as it would be, there are still some very good players outside of the top-five, so even if the worst happens, the Detroit Pistons can still get some impact talent.
NBA Mock Draft 4.0: The Detroit Pistons get the 6th pick
In this particular NBA Mock Draft version of how the Detroit Pistons get hosed in the lottery, the Chicago Bulls move up seven spots to claim the number one pick.
Bulls’ fans would lose their minds if this happened, as many of them thought they were headed for the playoffs after making a splashy trade for Nikola Vucevic. That didn’t happen and the Bulls were terrible down the stretch, which is how they ended up with a chance at this pick.
The Bulls would LOVE to add a point guard to go with Zach LaVine and Cunningham might be enough to push the Bulls to the middle of the pack in the Eastern Conference.
As the Bulls are a division rival of the Detroit Pistons, I really hope this doesn’t happen.
Detroit Pistons: NBA Mock Draft 4.0 pick No. 2
The Sacramento Kings also rocketed up the board in this NBA Mock Draft, moving up seven spots to get the number two pick.
The Kings were a mess this year again and need help all over but especially defensively.
Mobley could end up being a transcendent defender and he would work well with Marvin Bagley III if the Kings decide to keep him or take his place if they don’t.
Fans have tried to talk themselves into the idea that Cunningham and Mobley are not the top two picks, but I think that has come full circle already and that these will be the first two off the board no matter who gets the picks.
Mobley has Giannis Antetokounmpo-like skills and could end up being he best player in this draft, a guy who would be perfect on the Detroit Pistons.
Detroit Pistons: NBA Mock Draft 4.0 pick No. 3
The Timberwolves jumped up three spots in this NBA Mock Draft, which seems fair considering they didn’t tank down the stretch.
Minnesota has to give their pick to the Warriors if it falls out of the top-3, so this is pretty much the best-case scenario for them.
The Timberwolves already have some good scorers in Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell, so Suggs would be the perfect addition as an unselfish and versatile playmaker/
This would give the Timberwolves a solid “core four” players to build around and could propel them out of the cellar as soon as next season.
But we’ve said this before with the Timberwolves, so I wouldn’t be shocked if they stunk even if this happens.
Detroit Pistons: NBA Mock Draft 4.0 pick No. 4
If the NBA Draft ended up this way for the OKC Thunder they would be pretty happy, as they could get two picks in the top-five since the one they are owed from the Houston Rockets is protected 1-4.
Jalen Green is third or even second on some people’s big boards and is a guy who is going to come into the league with a big chip on his shoulder as he thinks he should be the number one pick.
Green is a dynamic scorer who can get it done in a variety of ways and also has a chance to be an impact defender with size at the two.
The Thunder don’t care about fit, so they will just take the best player available here and that is green.
Detroit Pistons: NBA Mock Draft 4.0 pick No. 5
If you want to know why OKC has been tanking and collecting picks, this is why, as there is a chance they could walk away with two of the top five guys and start something similar to what they had when they drafted Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant and James Harden in consecutive seasons.
If the Houston pick falls out of the top four, it belongs to OKC, so they could end up with both Green and Kuminga if the lottery balls work in their favor.
Adding two top-five guys to what they already have would put OKC right back in the mix and they still have a ton of draft assets to make big trade.
This is why many think nerd Sam Presti is the best in the business at GM.
Detroit Pistons: NBA Mock Draft 4.0 pick No. 6
This would obviously be a nightmare for the Detroit Pistons and their fans, who just endured an entire season of tanking just to get the 6th pick, ugh.
I think this pick could go in a LOT of ways and if the Pistons do drop out of the top four or five, Troy Weaver could make a surprise pick here.
James Bouknight is a name I’ve been hearing a lot lately, but in the end, I think Moody is the better choice as he is bigger, younger, more efficient and a better defender.
Bouknight is the better pure scorer, but Moody did shoot a better percentage from 3-point range and the free-throw line, two areas the Pistons need to improve in the offseason.
Both players have plus size for guards and long wingspans, but Moody has been the better defender so far and the Detroit Pistons are building around defense.
This would definitely not be the ideal pick for the Detroit Pistons, but I think Moody is going to be a very good player in this league and he does fill a need, so it wouldn’t be catastrophic (ok, it would).
Detroit Pistons: NBA Mock Draft 4.0 pick No. 7
This would be a nightmare scenario for the Orlando Magic, who are the other team along with the Detroit Pistons to get screwed over in this version of the NBA Mock Draft.
The Magic drop four spots to number seven in this scenario, but are still able to get a blue-chip talent in Jalen Johnson.
Johnson raised some red flags this season after quitting midway through his season at Duke, but he has all of the physical traits to be a star small forward.
He is 6-foot-9, can shoot the 3-ball, profiles as a good defender and rebounder and should be able to defend a couple of positions in the NBA.
The Magic are bereft of talent and Johnson would be a good replacement for the recently-traded Aaron Gordon.
Detroit Pistons: NBA Mock Draft 4.0 pick No. 8
The Cleveland Cavaliers dropped three spots to number 8, which would actually be nice to see after they have had more lottery luck than any team by far.
The Cavs are already set at guard with Garland, Sexton and Okoro, so could add the versatile forward Scottie Barnes to the mix as an eventual replacement for Kevin Love.
Barnes is one of my favorite prospects in this draft and he and Okoro would be a nightmare for opposing offenses.
Barnes can also make plays from the forward spot, so he’d be a nice addition to a team that needs playmaking and passing.
The Cavaliers looked to be headed in the right direction before taking a few steps back this season, but building their team around two dynamic scorers and two versatile defenders would be smart.
Detroit Pistons: NBA Mock Draft 4.0 pick No. 9
The Toronto Raptors dropped two spots in this NBA Mock Draft and are probably one of the most interesting teams in the lottery.
Unlike most of these teams, who are rebuilding, the Raptors already have a trio of very good young players locked up and could have a lot of cap space available depending what they do with Kyle Lowry.
The Raptors traded away shooting guard Norman Powell, so could use an injection of scoring at the two-guard.
Bouknight is bigger than Powell and a much-more dynamic scorer though he does not shoot the 3-ball as well.
Bouknight figures to be one of the best scorers in the NBA Draft and if he improves his 3-point shooting, could end up being a steal here for the Raptors.
Detroit Pistons: NBA Mock Draft 4.0 pick No. 10
The New Orleans Pelicans could go in a lot of directions with this pick and there are many who believe they will try to package it in a trade for a proven player.
The Pelicans need defense and shooting, so Springer makes sense here, as he is a very good on-the-ball defender at a couple of different spots and shot over 43 percent from 3-point range, albeit on a low number of attempts.
Depending on what they do with Lonzo Ball, the Pelicans are going to need a guard who can shoot and defend and Springer profiles as one of the better 3-and-D combo guards in the 2021 NBA Draft.
Detroit Pistons: NBA Mock Draft 4.0 pick No. 11
The Charlotte Hornets were one of the surprise teams of the NBA this season and will be looking to build around superstar rookie LaMelo Ball.
Ball is a dynamic offensive player but doesn’t bring much on the defensive end, so the Hornets might look to pair him with a backcourt mate who can defend.
The Hornets would love to trade Terry Rozier in the offseason, and might let Devonte’ Graham walk in free agency, so they are going to need guard depth.
Johnson profiles as a guy who will be able to defend multiple spots, as he is 6-foot-5 and should be cover some of Ball’s defensive problems.
He runs the floor well and fits in with the athletic team they are building in Charlotte.
Detroit Pistons: NBA Mock Draft 4.0 pick No. 12
The San Antonio Spurs love versatile players who can defend and Franz Wagner fits that description.
He should be one of the best playmaking forwards in the NBA Draft, can defend a couple of spots, is a tough and smart player who should come into the league ready to contribute.
The Spurs are not far from being good and have a solid young core, so adding Wagner could be the extra injection of talent they need to get back into the playoffs next season.
The Spurs could also be very busy on the free agent and trade market depending on what happens with DeMar DeRozan, so this pick could be in play in a trade.
If not, the Spurs would take a long look at Wagner, who seems to fit the profile of the type of guys they like.
Detroit Pistons: NBA Mock Draft 4.0 pick No. 13
The Pacers underperformed this year and might decide the the collection of talent they currently have isn’t enough.
I could definitely see the Pacers doing a soft rebuild this offseason by possibly trading Malcolm Brogdon and even Domantas Sabonis, as their ceiling with this group appears to be a middling team in the Eastern Conference.
Even if they don’t trade Brogdon, the Pacers could use a dynamic, playmaking point guard and that is exactly what Giddey projects to be.
He is definitely a guy who falls into the “steal or bust” category and this might be a reach for him here but he is a 6-foot-8 point guard with slick handles who should at least be a Ricky Rubio, but could be much more if he develops more range on his jumper.
Detroit Pistons: NBA Mock Draft 4.0 pick No. 14
I could definitely see the Warriors trading this pick, as they have Klay Thompson returning, and think they can be right back in the championship hunt with the right offseason moves.
If the Warriors can trade for another veteran contributor, then they probably will, as they already have youngster James Wiseman and really don’t need any more rookies while Stephen Curry is still there and playing at a high level.
If they do use the pick, it makes sense to take a guy who can defend and pick up some of the scoring they are likely to lose if Kelly Oubre leaves.
Butler is a good defender and 3-point shooter already, so he would fit right in with what Golden State needs and give them another weapon as a shooter, as he hit 41.6 of his long-range shots on a high volume.
Butler could end up being one of the steals of the draft, as he has all of the tools to be a two-way contributor.
Detroit Pistons: NBA Mock Draft 4.0 pick No. 15
The Wizards have plenty of scoring but one of the worst defenses in the NBA, so adding a combo guard who can defend makes sense.
Mitchell has improved his draft status after having a strong tournament and at least looks like a guy who will be a very good on-the-ball defender who can shoot the 3- point shot.
He could potentially back up both guard spots and give the Wizards some much-needed defense and 3-point shooting off the bench.
If Mitchell can continue to improve his long-range shooting, he could be much more at the next level, as he is already a good defender and a guy who knows how to win.
Detroit Pistons: NBA Mock Draft 4.0 pick No. 16
The Celtics are an interesting team, as they finished 7th in the Eastern Conference but had some bad injury luck and are probably better than that.
They have a bonafide superstar in Jayson Tatum, finished the top-ten in defense and 3-point shooting, so the Celtics don’t have a glaring need.
One issue they have had is a lack of ball movement, so it makes sense that they would look for a pass-first guard like Cooper, who profiles as one of the better passers in the draft.
He can’t shoot, but he’s lighting quick and averaged more than 8 assists per game last season for Auburn a trait the Celtics could definitely use.
Detroit Pistons: NBA Mock Draft 4.0 pick No. 17
The Detroit Pistons can learn a lot from the Memphis Grizzlies when it comes to roster construction, as the Grizzlies have built a nice young team through the draft and savvy use of their cap space.
The Grizzlies need to improve their 3-point shooting and would be pretty happy if Kispert fell to them with this pick. I think Kispert is a value pick here, though many mock drafts have him going in the top ten.
It’s hard for me to see teams overlooking some of his potential glaring defensive flaws, but Memphis is already a very good defensive team that needs scoring, so Kispert would be a nice get for them this late in the first round and could help them right away.
Detroit Pistons: NBA Mock Draft 4.0 pick No. 18
Ziaire Williams is a 6-foot-8 small forward prospect who is still raw but has all of the tools teams are looking for in a modern wing.
Williams projects as a guy who could be the type of long athletic wings teams are looking for, though he will have to improve his long-range shooting.
He’ll be one of the younger players in the draft, so don’t expect him to make an immediate impact, but Williams is more of a project pick with high upside, which is why he makes sense for Houston, who is rebuilding and will try to load up in this draft.
I could also see the Rockets trading this pick depending on how they want to go about their rebuild. This is the absolute worst-case scenario for the Rockets, which is why I hope it happens. Sorry, Houston, but you have not suffered long enough to deserve a number one pick after a half season of shameful tanking. Kick rocks.
Detroit Pistons: NBA Mock Draft 4.0 pick No. 19
The Knicks might have made the playoffs this season but their future is still unclear, as they have a ton of potential free agents this offseason.
The Knicks (as always) think they are going to make a big splash in free agency, but we shall see, as the New York media machine is known for creating rumors that usually flame out.
Jones is an uber athletic forward who can run the floor and would potentially give the Knicks some additional rim protection off the bench.
He projects as a guy who will eventually be able to step out and hit 3-point shots but he’s still pretty raw offensively.
Detroit Pistons: NBA Mock Draft 4.0 pick No. 20
The Hawks are middle-of-the-pack in 3-point shooting and would love to add some additional floor spacing around budding star Trae Young.
Duarte is a guy who will come into the NBA ready to play as he is coming off his senior season, and he already has an NBA-ready skill which is long-range shooting.
Duarte hit 42.4 percent of his 3-point shots on a fairly high volume, so expect him to make an impact for someone as a shooter off the bench.
Duarte doesn’t have the highest ceiling but his floor is solid NBA role player, which is exactly what the Hawks need around their young star.
Detroit Pistons: NBA Mock Draft 4.0 pick No. 21
The Knicks have a chance to add a dynamic scoring option in Cameron Thomas, who many feel will be one of the steals of the draft that some team might trade up to get.
Thomas can score from all over the place, as he showed in the NCAA tournament when he lit up a very good Michigan team for 30 points.
He is not much of a defender, which is something Tom Thibodeau wouldn’t like but he can score, which is something the Knicks need, as we are seeing in these playoffs.
The Knicks’ defense is already very good, which is why they will opt for a potential offensive weapon here.
Detroit Pistons: NBA Mock Draft 4.0 pick No. 22
The Lakers ended up with the 7th seed after LeBron James and Anthony Davis got hurt, so they are really lucky to be choosing this high.
The Lakers could very well end up winning the title again, so will get the chance to add some more talent, which they will need, as almost their entire team is hitting free agency in the offseason.
With Dennis Schroder and Alex Caruso entering free agency, the Lakers will probably look for a playmaking guard who can defend his position.
Enter Daishen Nix, who is a big, defensive minded point guard who can make plays. He already spent a season in the G-League, which will appeal to the Lebrons, as they need someone who comes in ready to play.
He would be a nice playmaker off the bench who can also defend and rebound his position. He is a guy I love for the Pistons in the second round if he falls there.
Detroit Pistons: NBA Mock Draft 4.0 pick No. 23-26
Sharpe projects as one of the better rebounders in the 2021 NBA Draft and could be nice bench option at some point who could blossom into more if he ever develops a shot.
Sharpe’s issue will be switching on the perimeter, but he should be a good interior defender who will grab rebounds.
Brown is a 6-foot-9 power forward who projects as a potential stretch four in the NBA. He is a good rebounder and will be one of the younger players in the draft.
He’d be another project for the Rockets, but after missing out on their chance at the lottery, they will be looking for high-ceiling talent to develop.
The Clippers could be a very different team next season if they lose in the first round of the playoffs, as Kawhi Leonard could potentially flee in free agency, which could cause a domino effect the leads to a rebuild.
Either way, I could see the Clippers try to move Zubac for an asset, and if so Petrusev could potentially replace some of his rebounding and interior defense.
He is a lanky power forward who can block shots and hit the 3-point shot, so he’d be a nice complement to the bigs they already have.
The Nuggets don’t have a glaring need, so I could see Dosunmu being a nice fit, as he is a versatile player who could provide some of what they lost when they were unable to retain Jerami Grant.
Dosunmu is a long, athletic perimeter defender with a raw offensive game. He will be a “glue guy” in the NBA who can defend all over the place, which is what the Nuggets need, as they already have a superstar and two star scorers.
Pistons Mock Draft 4.0: 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.
The Nets could use some additional rim protection and Queta can provide it, though there are questions about the level of competition he’s faced as well as his ability to switch defensively.
Jackson is a long power forward/center who could provide some shot blocking off the bench, especially if the 76ers don’t retain Dwight Howard.
He has high-ceiling upside even though he is raw, so he’d be a nice get here for Philly, who have built their squad around long and tenacious defenders.
The Suns would love to add another versatile winner to their team, and Ayayi has won more games than just about any player in the draft.
He is a tough defender, can do a little of everything and would help just about any team in the NBA off the bench.
The Suns could actually use him now, as they are struggling with guard depth after Chris Paul’s untimely injury in the playoffs.
Murphy is a big shooting guard/small forward who will help keep the Jazz near the top of the league in 3-point shooting.
He could be a nice bench scorer, and a guy who could replace the 3-point shooting they are likely to lose in free agency.