Detroit Pistons fall to fifth in the NBA draft lottery

The Detroit Pistons have been down this road before.

A year ago, the Pistons jumped up a spot to land the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, but there was no such luck in Tuesday's NBA draft lottery.

Detroit had the third-worst record in the NBA this past season at 23-59 and was one of three teams that had a 14 per cent chance of landing the top pick overall for this year's draft, which is set for June 23. The Pistons were looking to become the first team since Cleveland, in 2013 and 2014, to secure the first overall pick in backto-back years.

Instead, the Pistons saw Sacramento and Oklahoma City move up ahead of Detroit, which fell back to the No. 5 pick. It marked the seventh time in 16 trips to the lottery that the Pistons have been pushed further back in the draft.

“We're going to pick five (and) we'll be ready for five,” Pistons' general manager Troy Weaver said. “There's no disappointment. We're excited to be able to draft No. 5 and we'll be excited to make that pick.

“I like this draft as much as last year's draft. I'm comfortable with the players that are slated in the top half of the lottery.”

A year ago, guard Cade Cunningham was considered the consensus No. 1 prospect, but there is no clearcut favourite to go with the top pick this year.

However, had the Pistons stayed in the top three, the club would have been guaranteed a shot at Gonzaga's 7-foot forward Chet Holmgren, Auburn's six-foot-10 forward Jabari Smith Jr. or Duke's six-foot-10 forward Paolo Banchero.

Iowa six-foot-eight forward Keegan Murray is highly regarded, but might not provide the height Detroit is thought to be seeking, while Purdue guard Jaden Ivey and Arizona guard Benedict Mathurin are considered top-end prospects, but might not be a fit for the club after taking Cunningham last year and guard Killian Hayes in 2020.

“Everybody wants to add length and size,” Weaver said. “I think you get in trouble when you reach for that.

“We're going to pick the best player for us. Length, size, speed, it doesn't matter. Pick the best player for the Pistons.”

Sacramento (30-52) moved up from seventh to fourth and Oklahoma City (24-58) from fourth to second with Orlando (22-60), which had the second-worst record in the league, landing the No. 1 spot. Houston (20-62), which had the league's worst record, fell to No. 3.