Ringer mock draft has controversial pick for Detroit Pistons

We only have 14 more games before the Detroit Pistons’ season is mercifully over.

There hasn’t been much to cheer about lately, as the team is ravaged with injuries and the losses are piling up. Detroit is the NBA’s worst team, and the worst part is that many of their young players are on the bench with injuries.

Not only are the Pistons the worst team in the league this season, but they are on the verge of having the worst record in franchise history, a dubious honor I’m sure they would rather avoid.

The only benefit is that Detroit will have maximum 14 percent odds in the Victor Wembanyama lottery, and if they stay as the worst team, can only fall as far as 5th, though that would be considered a nightmare scenario for a team that needs more star talent.

In a recent Mock Draft, The Ringer gave the Detroit Pistons the 3rd pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, which may be the toughest to predict and will undoubtedly cause some controversy no matter whose name gets called.

Detroit Pistons: Who goes 3rd in the 2023 NBA Mock Draft?

It is widely believed that Wembanyama and Scoot Henderson are pretty much locks to go 1st and 2nd in the 2023 NBA Draft, but after that it’s anyone’s guess.

The Ringer had the Pistons taking wing Brandon Miller, who has had a fantastic freshman season marred by controversy. Here’s what The Ringer had to say about Miller on the Detroit Pistons:

"“After Detroit drafted guards in the lottery in consecutive seasons, Miller would be a natural fit alongside the Pistons’ young core as a score-first forward who’s also willing to pass. Miller’s draft status is in flux, though, as a serious investigation continues in Tuscaloosa.”"

On paper, Miller’s size and shooting on the wing would be the perfect fit with Detroit’s two young guards, but would Detroit roll the dice on a player who is involved in a murder investigation? To be clear, Miller has not been charged with a crime, but the investigation is ongoing, so that could change.

If the Pistons were to draft Miller, they’d likely take some heat from fans concerned about the culture they are building, and if they pass on him and he becomes a star, that creates a different controversy altogether.

It’s going to be interesting to see if Miller’s off-the-court controversy is going to cost him status in the draft, but we won’t know until the 3rd pick comes up and his name gets called… or doesn’t.