NBA Draft Lottery Results: 2016 First Round is Set
By Zac Snyder
The 2016 NBA Draft order is set following the results of the Draft Lottery. The Detroit Pistons pick 18th; see the full first round order here.
As a playoff team, the Detroit Pistons knew at the conclusion of the regular season where their pick in the 2016 NBA Draft would be. Playoff teams are slotted in reverse order of the final regular season standings, giving the Pistons the 18th overall pick in the draft.
That pick was going to go to the Houston Rockets in the trade deadline deal that would have brought Marcus Thornton and Donatas Motiejunas to Detroit put the trade was voided by the Pistons because of a back injury suffered by Motiejunas.
That left just the first 14 picks to be sorted out via the Draft Lottery, which was won by the Philadelphia 76ers. The Los Angeles Lakers would have had to convey their pick to the 76ers had they not secured a top-three pick, but they did just that and will pick second overall.
The 2016 NBA Draft first round order is now set as follows:
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1. Philadelphia 76ers
2. Los Angeles Lakers
3. Boston Celtics (via Nets)
4. Phoenix Suns
5. Minnesota Timberwolves
6. New Orleans Pelicans
7. Denver Nuggets
8. Sacramento Kings
9. Toronto Raptors (via Knicks)
10. Milwaukee Bucks
11. Orlando Magic
12. Utah Jazz
13. Phoenix Suns (via Wizards)
14. Chicago Bulls
15. Denver Nuggets (via Rockets)
16. Boston Celtics (via Mavericks)
17. Memphis Grizzlies
18. Detroit Pistons
19. Denver Nuggets (via Blazers)
20. Indiana Pacers
21. Atlanta Hawks
22. Charlotte Hornets
23. Boston Celtics
24. Philadelphia 76ers (via Heat/Cavaliers)
25. Los Angeles Clippers
26. Philadelphia 76ers (via Thunder/Nuggets/Cavaliers)
27. Toronto Raptors
28. Phoenix Suns (via Cavaliers/Celtics)
29. San Antonio Spurs
30. Golden State Warriors
With the draft order set, speculation about how those picks might go can really heat up. The Pistons’ biggest need would seem to be at backup point guard but they may prefer a veteran to fill that role rather than counting on another young player.
If they go away from point guard with their first round pick, a wing or a shooting guard would make a nice pick – particularly one with a solid three-point shot.
Next: Pistons Draft Coverage on Detroit Jock City
Of course, there is not guarantee the Pistons look to keep the pick at all. They tried dealing it at the trade deadline during the season and Stan Van Gundy may feel that adding another young player to an already young team is not the right next step forward.