5 stars the Detroit Pistons missed by a single pick in the Draft

2001 NBA Draft: Chose Rodney White 9th, Joe Johnson went 10th 

Rodney White was bad enough to make my Pistons draft bust starting five, so just about anyone taken after him would have been a better option for the Pistons. 

But the answer was sitting right there, as 7-time All-Star Joe Johnson was taken 10th, just a pick away. What makes this especially frustrating is that the two played the same position, so the Pistons had a need and just chose the wrong guy, which has been a theme. 

Johnson was a bucket for most of his career and one of the most prolific scorers in the NBA, ending with over 20,000 points, good for 49th on the All-Time scoring list. 

But don’t worry, the Pistons eventually landed Johnson when he was around 65 years old for a stint in Summer League and they were so bad there was speculation that he would actually make the team. 

Given this was just before the Goin’ to Work era, you have to wonder if the Pistons might have nabbed another title had they taken Johnson.