The Losing Edge: 7 NBA teams that should be lining up to tank for Cooper Flagg

Detroit Pistons

With the Detroit Pistons having the worst record in each of the last two seasons and picking fifth in both the 2023 and 2024 NBA Draft, they would seem like likely candidates to tank for Cooper Flagg. Although they did draft Ron Holland, who has a lot of promise, they don't have a clear superstar on their roster and don't figure to be much better next season unless they try to bring in veterans.

That would be a bad idea since finishing with one of the three worst records in the NBA would mean that they'd have a 14% chance at selecting first in next year's draft. That isn't great odds but they are definitely due after coming up short in the last two drafts. As a result, the Pistons should make minimal changes and hope for development from their young core, including Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Jalen Duren, Amen Thompson, and now Holland.

Adding Flagg would be huge for Detroit, with him being seen as the next big thing—a type of potential star that the Pistons haven't had in years. He'd also give the team a building block, allowing them to see which of their young core would fit around him. That would speed up their rebuild by years so the Pistons should be all-in on tanking.