As the 2017 NBA Draft Lottery approaches, here’s a look at the odds for the Detroit Pistons, who finished with the 12th-worst record in the league this season.
It was definitely not a great time for the Detroit Pistons last season. Their roster was shaken up, their star players were sub-par, and their poor defense (they were allowing 101.9 points per game back in January) could be described as somewhere between nonexistent and inconsistent. To top it off, the Pistons missed the playoffs with a record of 37-45.
But the Pistons were supposed to be better than that. During the 2015-16 season, the Pistons ended with a competitive first round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers that gave everyone hope for the team’s future. However, the Pistons basically took a step backward this year.
Nevertheless, just like any team, the Pistons know how to bounce back, and they have already taken the steps to get ready for next season. Shutting down Reggie Jackson in order for him to focus on improving his performance was one of those steps leading to the right direction.
But it’s no secret that the Pistons’ best shot to improve would be focusing more on incoming players. This upcoming draft will give a good picture of how the Pistons will fare next season because roster adjustments have been one of their biggest problems. Here are their odds for each pick:
- 1st: 0.7%
- 2nd: 0.8%
- 3rd: 1.0%
- 12th: 93.5%
- 13th: 3.9%
- 14th: 0.0%
Because the Pistons finished with the 12th-worst record in the league, they have the highest chance of acquiring the 12th pick in the draft. According to Tankathon, the 12th pick is likely to be Zach Collins, a big man from Gonzaga. Averaging 10 points and 5.9 rebounds, Collins proved his dominance around the rim last season. He can chase the opponent down the floor, control the paint, and block and shots getting in his way. His 7’1” wingspan doesn’t hurt either.
The Pistons could use a player like Collins who can do all of those things. Andre Drummond certainly did not have a stellar season. He went from averaging 16.2 points per game to 13.6 points this season. His rebounding average was also down from 14.8 to 13.8. The trade rumors that Drummond was reported to be apart of according to ESPN’s Zach Lowe back in February just added to his disappointing season.
Additonally, a $6.5 million player option for next season leaves Aron Baynes‘ future with the Pistons as uncertain. This would leave a hole in the Pistons’ frontcourt. Collins could easily fill that void. As shown during the NCAA Tournament, he plays with so much energy and aggresiveness that he automatically intimidates anyone in the paint. That is the type of players that the Pistons need.
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Last season, the Pistons acquired the 18th pick Henry Ellison and the 49th overall pick Michael Gbinije. Both players have not had much success this season. The Pistons can look forward to having a better pick in Collins.