The Detroit Pistons have the second-worst record in the league and are in position to nab a top pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.
They are currently 1.5 games ahead of the Magic for the worst record in the league after winning a few games while Orlando has lost nine in a row.
This is certainly not how many of us hoped this season would go, but it’s also not surprising, as the Pistons are one of the youngest teams in the league and have lost their only two decent veterans to injury.
With Jerami Grant and Kelly Olynyk missing significant time, the Pistons have been unable to sustain much success even though rookie Cade Cunningham has had some big games and flashed superstar potential at times.
Most of the focus when it comes to the 2022 NBA Draft has been on the forwards at the top, as Jabari Smith, Paolo Banchero and Chet Holmgren all have skills that Detroit needs and have separated themselves from the pack.
But what if the Detroit Pistons drop out of the top three? It’s not a possibility we want to think about, but right now the odds are against them.
Detroit Pistons: 2022 NBA Draft odds
The bottom three teams all have the same odds for the number one pick, so the only real advantage to having the worst record is that you are guaranteed to stay in the top five, while the second-worst record can fall to six.
Here are Detroit’s odds for each spot:
- #1 pick-14%
- #2 pick- 13.4%
- #3 pick- 12.7%
- #4 pick- 12%
- #5 pick- 27.8%
- #6 pick- 20.1%
As you can see, Detroit would have a 40.1 percent chance of staying in the top three and the picks with the highest odds would actually be five and six, which is a nightmare scenario for a team whose fans have suffered enough.
But we have to prepare for the possibility that is going to happen, and if it does, the Pistons might turn to the G-League for talent.
Detroit Pistons 2022 NBA Draft prospects
Dyson Daniels
Daniels is a 6-foot-6 shooting guard/small forward out of Australia who currently plays for the G-League Ignite, which has produced other NBA talent like Jalen Green.
On paper there is a lot to like about Daniels’ fit with the Pistons, as he has good size for the position and can use his size to get buckets in the post.
He is good off the ball, which is something Detroit will be looking for, as Cade Cunningham is going to be running the show and needs guys who know how to get open and make an impact without the ball in their hands.
He is a good defender with active hands, which is definitely something Troy Weaver will be looking for and he is a good, not great, athlete.
The biggest question mark around him is his outside shot, as he is shooting just 25 percent from long range on 3.6 attempts per game for the Ignite.
Detroit needs shooters, and though they can’t draft for need over talent, adding another guy who can’t shoot from range isn’t going to help open up the offense for Cunningham.
Even if the Pistons fell to sixth, Daniels would probably be a reach depending on who was left on the board, but he is a guy to keep an eye on as the season progresses and we get closer to draft day.
Detroit Pistons 2022 NBA Draft prospects
Jaden Hardy
Jaden Hardy is one of the most polarizing players in the 2022 NBA Draft, as many believe he has bust potential while others think he could end up being the best player in the draft.
Hardy can do one thing very well and that is score, which is something the offensively challenged Pistons definitely need.
He can put up points in a hurry, has unlimited range and is an elite athlete who can get buckets in a variety of ways.
Hardy is originally from Detroit, but played his high school ball in Nevada, averaging over 30 per game in his junior season. Many have compared him to last year’s number two pick Jalen Green, as he has that kind of athleticism and range on his shot.
But Hardy can be wild at times, makes questionable decisions with the ball and his shot has been wildly inconsistent, as he is hitting just 26 percent from long range on 6.5 attempts per game even though he often looks very comfortable on the catch-and-shoot.
He also shoots 88 percent from the line, which is a good indicator that his shot will come around.
He would give Detroit a boost in athleticism and a guy who can get his own shot, which are things they need, but he has a lot of question marks as well.
Hardy is a high risk/high reward kind of guy and would probably have to really impress in workouts to jump into the top ten of the 2022 NBA Draft.
The G-League guys are hard to scout, as teams have little continuity (especially this season) and guys are constantly trying to show off, which leads to a lot of bad shots and questionable defense, but if Detroit falls out of the top-4 everything is on the table, including trading the pick.