The Detroit Pistons, unlike other teams, left the 2017 NBA Draft Lottery with what they were expected to receive — the 12th overall pick in the draft.
Entering the 2017 NBA Draft Lottery, the Detroit Pistons had a 2.5 percent chance of landing in the top three slots. They had a 0.7 percent chance of landing the No. 1 overall pick. That slim chance made it clear that the Pistons would undoubtedly walk away with the 12th overall pick Tuesday night.
Pistons general manager Jeff Bower, who represented the Pistons during the Draft Lottery, said, “That was where the odds said we’d end up tonight–and that’s where we are, at number 12. We had hopes of moving up, however slim that is, but now that the percentages have played out, we put all our attention on making a good pick at number 12 and we’ll be positioned to add a good player.”
The 12th pick in the draft is projected to be a couple of “good players,” according to most mocks. Basically, the Pistons have the option of choosing Zach Collins ( Tankathon), Donovan Mitchell (Draft Express), Justin Jackson (Sports Illustrated), and John Collins (Bleacher Report).
Ultimately the Pistons need a player that can contribute to interior defense, a solid backcourt and a player who can occasionally shoot from the three-point line. Each of those players can easily give what the Pistons need.
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Louisville’s Donovan Mitchell (probably the only guard that the Pistons have a chance of acquiring) averaged 15.6 points per game and shot 46.3 percent in field goals. Although his three-point percentage is less than 40 percent, he can still be a decent backup for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. This is especially true because of Caldwell-Pope’s uncertain future with the team after he decided not to sign an extension before the deadline.
However, the ideal player for the Pistons would be a big man who can score very well. That basically boils down to Detroit choosing between Gonzaga’s Zach Collins, UNC’s Justin Jackson, and Wake Forest’s John Collins.
The Pistons need a solid three-point shooter, and that would leave John Collins out of the equation. Although he averaged an impressive 19.2 points per game, he did not attempt a single three-point shot last season. That simply means that he isn’t comfortable shooting beyond mid-range.
Justin Jackson averaged more points per game than Zach Collins (18.4 points per game compared to 10), but Collins offers a better three-point shooting percentage at 47.6 percent.
Next: Winners and losers of the 2017 NBA Draft Lottery
With the disappointing season the Pistons have had, it’s clear that they are seeking a fresh start. Their new home at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit is only the physical example of this Pistons reset button. Hopefully, their pick during the NBA Draft on June 22, along with some major roster adjustments, will mark the beginning of a new era for the team.