The Detroit Pistons came into the 2021-22 NBA season with a little bit of optimism. No one was really expecting them to challenge for a postseason spot, but if things had broken their way, it looked like a roster that could fight for a spot in the NBA Play-In Tournament. Alas, they didn’t have many things break their way.
Detroit is tied with the Orlando Magic for the fewest wins in the NBA heading into the All-Star break with 13. They have the worst net rating in the league at -10.1, currently 29th in offensive rating and 25th in defensive rating. Their sights are likely already set on the 2022 NBA Draft, as the Pistons will most likely have a pick inside the top-five.
That will give them a chance to add another dynamic, high-upside young player to the mix and hopefully start climbing out of this extended rebuild.
They received some lottery luck last year, vaulting up to the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft and selecting Oklahoma State point guard Cade Cunningham.
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That was the first of three first-round picks the Pistons ended up with in 2021. Later on, in the first round, they ended up with Saddiq Bey out of Villanova and Isaiah Stewart out of Washington. With Killian Hayes being selected in the lottery of the 2020 NBA Draft, Detroit has an intriguing young core to build around.
Who could they look to add to that young core with their first-round pick in the 2022 NBA Draft? Here are three prospects that the Detroit Pistons should keep an eye on throughout the draft process.
