Detroit Pistons: Re-drafting each Pistons lottery pick since 2010
Detroit Pistons NBA Draft: Re-drafting the 2010’s
Detroit Pistons 2012 Draft: Pick number nine
Original pick: Andre Drummond
New Pick: Draymond Green
With a record of 25-41, the Pistons entered the lottery with the ninth-best odds to land the first overall pick. After the lottery, the team remained at pick number nine. With that pick, the Pistons would select Andre Drummond out of UConn.
The fact that Drummond is one of the top three players to suit up for the Pistons this decade is telling about how the team has fared in recent years. In Detroit, Drummond was a two-time All-Star and four-time league rebounds leader. That is pretty much it.
The big man averaged 14.5 points and 13.8 rebounds during his time in Detroit. His abysmal free-throw shooting is the only other stat that really sticks out. Drummond was unable to shoot above 42 percent from the charity stripe in his first five seasons in the NBA. For his Pistons career, the 6-10 big man shot 46.1 percent from the free-throw line.
light. Related Story. Pistons' fans understand how the Lakers are feeling about Drummond
Detroit moved on from Drummond during the 2019-2020 season. The center was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for a second-round pick, John Henson, and Brandon Knight, who returned to the Pistons after stops with four other franchises.
Compared to the other first-round selections from the 2012 draft, Drummond was the right selection for Detroit. The only first-round player selected after the ninth pick that stands out is Evan Fournier. Digging into the second round of the draft, Draymond Green sticks out as a player many teams regret passing on.
Coming out of Michigan State, Green was not a highly-touted prospect. Standing at 6-6, Green has been one of the best defenders in the league. The one-time defensive player of the year anchored the three-time NBA Champion Golden State Warriors defense.
As a scorer, Green leaves a lot to be desired, but as a playmaker, Green is one of the league’s best. Green has averaged 6.7 assists per game since he took over as the full-time starter in 2014-2015.
Draymond Green also fits the type of player the Pistons have been synonymous with. He is a physical, defensive-minded player who will outwork his opponents in every game. Drummond might be one of Detroit’s best players this past decade, but Green would have made the ideal Pistons player.
Honorable Mention: Khris Middleton