Pistons take another NBA lottery loss, will pick at No. 5

Chicago — After posting the franchise’s worst season to date, the Pistons came to Chicago this weekend for the NBA draft lottery hoping to catch a break. 

Detroit, for the second year in a row, was one of two teams who had the best odds at landing the top pick for the upcoming NBA draft. But on Sunday, the ping-pong balls ultimately didn't fall in the Pistons’ favor. 

Instead, Sunday ended up being a repeat of how last year's draft lottery unfolded for Detroit, though the stakes are much lower this time around. The Pistons ultimately slid down to the No. 5 pick for next month's draft.

Meanwhile, the Atlanta Hawks, who had a 3% chance to win the lottery, landed the No. 1 overall pick.

The Hawks were followed by the Washington Wizards, Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs.

A little over two hours before NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum stepped on stage at the McCormick Place Convention Center to reveal the official order of the June 26-27 draft, The Detroit News was one of the select few media members who were invited into the discreet room where the draft order drawing was decided. 

The Pistons haven’t had much luck in the lottery. They’ve won the coveted top pick only once since the league introduced the system in 1984. That was in 2021 when Detroit drafted Cade Cunningham No. 1 overall. 

Last year, the Pistons entered the lottery drawing day with the same 14% odds as this Sunday to land the top pick, giving them the best chance to win the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes. However, Detroit experienced the worst-case scenario as the franchise dropped to the No. 5 pick, the lowest spot the team could’ve fell to in the draft. A few weeks later, the Pistons used that No. 5 pick on Ausar Thompson. 

This will be the third straight year in which the Pistons select at No. 5, starting with guard Jaden Ivey's selection in 2022.

Last year, the San Antonio Spurs won the lottery and drafted the prized French phenom a few weeks later. The Hawks don't have a similar prize waiting for them next month, as there hasn't been a surefire franchise-altering player emerge in this year's prospect pool. In fact, this is arguably the most unsettled draft class in the last decade-plus, with many NBA analysts suggesting the talent pool to be weaker than usual. That's why while some might view the Pistons as the unluckiest team in the league, many aren't sweating Detroit's slippage in draft position.

Still, Detroit's poor luck resulted in an awkward reaction from Thompson, who was on stage representing the the team on stage at Sunday's lottery show. Thompson appeared to try to cover the disbelief on his face after Tatum pulled a card with the Pistons logo out on an envelope marked with the No. 5.

More:Wojo: Lottery luck or not, Pistons need to blow it up, starting with Weaver

Sunday is just a blip in what is a pivotal offseason for Detroit.

It's still unclear who will the one calling the shots at next month's draft and beyond as team owner Tom Gores remains on the hunt for the Pistons' first president of basketball operations following a frustrating 14-68 season. Interviews are underway, with several executives from other teams reported to be in the running for the job. But until a hiring for that position becomes official, general manager Troy Weaver and Williams' futures in Detroit remain in the balance.

How long it'll take the Pistons to turn around their misfortunes has yet to be seen. It's notable that Detroit has plenty of salary cap space to bolster its roster in free agency this season. A No. 5 pick even in a weaker-than-usual draft can still be viewed as a valuable asset in a trade.

For now, though, the Pistons remain stuck in limbo.

mkenney@detroitnews.com

@madkenney