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Detroit Pistons hope for a top-five pick in 2020 NBA Draft Lottery

By Joseph Wooley

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 20: The first round draft board is seen during the 2019 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 20, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 20: The first round draft board is seen during the 2019 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 20, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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For the past several weeks, the Detroit Pistons have observed 22 other NBA teams play an abbreviated schedule and playoffs. Now, they are ready for a “restart” of their own with Thursday’s draft lottery.

After the Detroit Pistons found themselves on the outside looking in of the NBA’s bubble, they turned their focus to next year and beyond. By taking on multiple expiring contracts in February, the Pistons demonstrated they were ready for a rebuild. This draft will be the first real step in this process.

The forthcoming draft pick also represents Troy Weaver’s first move(s) with the organization. Until now, he has not had the chance to make many decisions, aside from a minimal addition at center, Justin Patton. Turning their attention toward Thursday, Weaver and his team will be considering every outcome in the lottery.

With the fifth-worst record in the league as of March 11 (20-46), the Pistons have a 10.5% chance of snagging the first pick. Ahead of them are the Warriors, Cavaliers, Timberwolves, and Hawks. The absolute (and extremely improbable) worst-case scenario has them picking ninth. In all likelihood, the Pistons will end up picking sixth or seventh, if they do not sneak into the top four. They have a roughly 42% chance to better their current position of pick no. 5.

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If something seems incongruous with the Pistons finishing fifth-worst and not receiving the fifth pick, it is similar to the situation in which the Red Wings found themselves over a month ago. Fourteen teams technically have a chance at one of the top four picks. All it takes is one or two teams to leapfrog into the top four, and every other team loses a place. As counter-intuitive as it may seem, the teams with the best lottery odds also have a better chance to slide. Even still, this will probably be the Pistons’ highest selection since they took Greg Monroe seventh overall in 2010.

Unfortunately for whoever wins the first overall pick, there is not a clear-cut choice as there was a year ago when the Pelicans selected Zion Williamson. Georgia guard, Anthony Edwards, is the odds-on favorite to go first–with LaMelo Ball and James Wiseman rounding out the top three prospects–but the field is wide open after that.

Who the Pistons choose, of course, depends on which spot they find themselves and who is ahead of them. With rebuilding at the forefront, the Pistons are just as likely to take the best player available. Their first-round pick is especially important, considering it is currently their only one. What would have been pick no. 35 is on its way to the Kings as a result of a trade back in 2015.

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The Detroit Pistons will find out along with everyone else the order of draft picks on Thursday. ESPN will broadcast the lottery beginning at 8:30. If all goes according to plan, the draft itself will take place on October 16.

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