Where would young Pistons land in the 2024 NBA Draft?

The NBA Draft is all about luck, something the Detroit Pistons know all too well. 

You not only have to get lucky in the NBA Draft Lottery, but it has to happen in a year when it matters, as getting the #1 pick when there isn’t a consensus superstar may be no better than getting the 6th or 7th pick in a deep draft full of potential star power. 

The Pistons were lucky enough to get the number one pick in 2021 and selected Cade Cunningham, who they hope and pray will evolve into a top-15 player and soon. 

Cunningham is very good, but I don’t know if you’d find too many people who would consider him a generational star. Flashback to last year, when the Pistons once again had max odds for the number one pick but dropped all the way to 5th, missing their chance at Victor Wembanyama, who most people believe IS a generational star. 

You have to get lucky twice, once to get the pick and once to it in a year when there is a franchise-altering star. 

Most experts agree that there is no such player in the 2024 NBA Draft, which is as wide open as I can remember with no clear consensus about anything. 

This made me wonder where the Detroit Pistons’ current young core would be drafted if they were placed in this draft now. 

Where would the young Pistons land in the 2024 NBA Draft? 

Ausar Thompson: #3 

Let’s start with the most recent Pistons’ draft pick, Ausar Thompson, who went 5th last season, but would likely fall no further than the top-3 of this draft. 

Teams may still value Alex Sarr’s size and defensive upside, but it’s hard to see anyone else in this draft going ahead of Ausar except for his twin brother Amen Thompson. 

There are some good wing players in this draft, but none with athleticism, defense and versatility of the Thompson Twins. I could definitely see a world in which Amen and Ausar would go #1 and #2 in the 2024 NBA Draft.