5 worst Detroit Pistons’ draft classes in franchise history
If you look at the draft history of any team in the NBA, you are likely to find some years that did not work out, and that definitely applies to the Detroit Pistons, who have had some horrific draft classes.
The Pistons are hoping that has come to an end recently, as they have put together three highly rated drafts in 2020, 2021 and 2022, landing potential superstar Cade Cunningham to go along with Jaden Ivey, Jalen Duren, Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart.
The book is still out on Killian Hayes, but it looks as if the Pistons have built one of the best young cores in the NBA through recent drafts.
We’ve taken a look at some of the best draft picks the Detroit Pistons have made, but now it’s time to explore the dark side of team draft history.
Related Story. Ex-Deroit Pistons among notable available free agents. light
Here are the five worst (in my opinion) along with who the Pistons should have taken. I factored in draft position and big misses among other things when making these rankings, so it isn’t always about the talent level.
Detroit Pistons: 5 worst draft classes of all time
2011
Who they chose:
- Brandon Knight (8)
- Kyle Singler (33)
- Vernon Macklin (52)
Who they should have chosen:
- Kawhi Leonard
- Isaiah Thomas
- E’Twaun Moore
Brandon Knight did make the All-Rookie team, so there have definitely been years where the Detroit Pistons got less talent. Knight had a decent career, so this one is more about the misses. This draft changed the history of the team, as the Pistons took the mediocre Knight over Kawhi, Kemba Walker and Klay Thompson, so this draft is still hurting Detroit more than a decade later.
A lot of teams missed in this one, and if you did a re-draft of 2011, it would look a whole lot different.