3 Ways NBA Draft Lottery results will shift Pistons’ offseason plans

Fans of the Detroit Pistons are not going to get the offseason they were dreaming about after Detroit dropped to 5th during the NBA Draft Lottery.

Dropping always hurts, but after a 17-win season and with a generational prospect at the top of the 2023 NBA Draft, this fall was particularly devastating.

Landing the #1 pick would have made Troy Weaver’s job considerably easier this summer, as he would have just had to draft Wembanyama, add a wing in free agency and call it day.

But the 5th pick makes Weaver’s job way more difficult, and will likely shift the Pistons’ offseason plans in a number of areas.

3 Ways NBA Draft Lottery results will shift Pistons’ offseason plans

The Coach

If they had landed the #1 pick, the Pistons would have likely had their choice of head coaches this summer, as it suddenly made them one of the most attractive jobs in the NBA.

This was confirmed by reports that claimed Detroit was going to press hard for Monty Williams had they gotten the chance to add Victor Wembanyama.

But that didn’t happen, and the Pistons might now be the least attractive opening of the five teams looking for a head coach. Three of them are current title contenders (or at least playoff teams depending on how you see Philly), and the other one, Toronto, has more “win now” talent than Detroit.

Dropping to 5th changed the coaching landscape for the Pistons, who are probably not going to get Mike Budenholzer, Monty Williams or Nick Nurse when there are other more attractive jobs available and no Wembanyama on the way.

That doesn’t mean Detroit will end up with Charles Lee, Jarron Collins or Kevin Ollie, but it might limit them to first-time head coaches.