Detroit Pistons: Shocking number of recent 5th picks are busts

The Detroit Pistons will choose 5th in the 2022 NBA Draft, a spot that has been hit-or-miss in recent years.

If you go back through the modern NBA Drafts, there have been a lot of good players taken 5th, including one MVP.

But if you look at only recent drafts, there have been a surprising number of busts, which underscores how much of a crapshoot the draft really is.

While most fans expect to get an impact player with a top-5 pick, the truth is that in recent years, teams have been just as likely to get a bust in that slot.

Detroit Pistons draft: Half of the recent 5th picks have been busts

Looking at the last 10 NBA Drafts, there is some good news and bad news for the Detroit Pistons. The good news is that the last five 5th picks have ranged from solid players to superstars. The bad news is that the five picks before that were complete busts.

Let’s start with the good news. Here are the last five 5th picks, which includes some names that should have Pistons’ fans feeling optimistic:

• 2021-Jalen Suggs: Solid rookie season marred by injury, but he looks like he will be a good two-way player.
• 2020-Isaac Okoro: Good defender for the Cavaliers who improved his shooting numbers even though his point totals went down in his second season.
• 2019-Darius Garland: Made the All-Star team this season as Cavaliers’ lead guard.
• 2018- Trae Young: Bonafide superstar who has already carried his team to the Eastern Conference Finals.
• 2017-De’Aaron Fox: Averaged 24 points per game over the last two seasons for the Kings.

I think the Detroit Pistons would be happy to get a player of this caliber, especially if the 5th pick ends up being the next Garland, Young or Fox.

However, if you look at the five drafts before that, you’ll find some of the biggest busts in recent NBA history.

• 2016-Kris Dunn: Has played in 17 NBA games in the last two seasons combined.
• 2015-Mario Hezonja: Plays in Croatia. Hasn’t been on an NBA team since 2019-20
• 2014-Dante Exum: Plays in Australia. Hasn’t been on an NBA roster since 2020-21
• 2013-Alex Len: Has been on six teams. Played 39 games this season and averaged six points and four rebounds
• 2012-Thomas Robinson: Plays in Puerto Rico. Hasn’t played in the NBA since 2016-17.

This group is the polar opposite, as none of these guys made any kind of positive impact in the NBA and all but Len are out of the league.

The NBA Draft brings hope to beleaguered fanbases, but when the 5th pick is 50/50 to even stay in the league, it’s easy to see why some see that hope as a carrot dangled in front of a donkey.

Fans who are willing to trade proven NBA players for draft picks should know that history and statistics are not on their side,

Let’s hope that Troy Weaver and the Detroit Pistons add to the recent success of the 5th pick and avoid the curse of the 5th pick bust.