As the calendar flips to April, and with seven games remaining in the 2024-25 season, fans of the Detroit Pistons find themselves in an unlikely position when it comes to the NBA Draft:
We don’t care.
For the first time in years, fans in Detroit aren’t spending their April feverishly reading mock drafts, dreaming about the talent that could bring a better future to Detroit.
That future is finally here, so instead of hoping the team loses to increase their draft odds, we’re desperate for the Pistons to win to improve their playoff seeding. It’s a nice place to be.
There were plenty of fans who wanted the Pistons to tank again before this season started (I was not one of them), but I’m not hearing much from them now, as Detroit has played their way out of a first-round pick, and no one seems to care.
Here’s where the Pistons’ picks stand as April begins.
Detroit Pistons draft picks
If the season were to end right now, the Pistons’ first-round pick would be conveyed to the Minnesota Timberwolves as the 18th pick.
The pick is protected 1-13, so it is going to Minnesota this year after hanging over the Pistons since 2020 and passing through several teams, including the Rockets, Thunder and Knicks.
There were times that it looked as though that pick may never convey, but the hated Timberwolves will now be the beneficiary of a mid to late first-round pick thanks to the draft trade that brought Isaiah Stewart to Detroit. Sweet irony.
The Pistons also have a second-round pick courtesy of Toronto, which has dipped a bit as the Raptors inexplicably continue to win games.
If the season ended now, Detroit would have the 37th pick overall, which is the 7th selection in the second round of the 2025 Draft.
With the teams below them all in full-blown tank. mode, it's unlikely the Raptors dip in the standings, as they have a 3.5 game lead over the Nets, and they are far enough behind the Spurs, Trail Blazers and Suns in total wins to nearly lock their position into place.
The Pistons can help their own cause as they play the Raptors on Friday, so getting a win in Toronto is doubly important for Detroit.
Draft junkies still have some reason to be excited, as Trajan Langdon has been good about finding talent in the second round.
There will also be apron teams looking to cut money, so don’t be surprised if the Pistons used this year’s pick and a few of the many second-rounders Langdon has collected to move up in the draft if there is someone they love in late first round.