Detroit Pistons: Top-7 second-round draft picks in Pistons history

Detroit Pistons: Best 2nd-round draft picks #3-1

#3- Mehmet Okur (2001)

The Pistons drafted the Turkish Hammer in 2001 but he didn’t play in the NBA until the following season because of contractual obligations in his home country.

Okur only played two seasons in Detroit, but he did help the team win a title 2004 as a key part of the bench before being a salary cap casualty who ended up in Utah.

The Pistons may have regretted letting him go, as he strung together six really good seasons for the Jazz, landing on the All-Star team in one of them. Okur had a season where he averaged over 18 points and 9 rebounds, so he was much better than some people remember.

#2- Khris Middleton (2012)

Middleton probably goes down as the Pistons’ biggest mistake in the modern era.

After playing sparingly in his rookie season, the Detroit Pistons shipped Middleton to Milwaukee as a side piece with Brandon Knight to get Brandon Jennings. I am trying to resist the urge to curse right now. %$£&!!

Middleton went on to become two-time All-Star for the Bucks and one of the deadliest 3-point shooters the league, in other words, exactly what the Pistons were missing in the years between inexplicably trading him and drafting Saddiq Bey.

Middleton is now one of the best two-way wings in the league and talking about him is making me ill.

#1- Dennis Rodman (1986)

Dennis Rodman was part of one of the Pistons’ best drafts, selected in the 2nd round after Detroit had already secured John Salley.

Rodman was one of the catalysts of the Bad Boys era, a two-time All Star for Detroit who also led the league in rebounds his final two years for the Pistons on his way to doing it seven times in a row.

Rodman was one of the best defenders in the history of the NBA, a guy who leapt like an antelope and could literally guard everyone in the league from Spud Webb to Shaquille O’Neal.

Rodman went on to win five rings total and was part of some of the best teams in NBA history, which is how the Worm ended up in the top spot on this list.

Can Troy Weaver find another gem with one of those second-round picks he got for Doumbouya? Let’s hope this list is soon expanded.