Detroit will have the fifth pick in this year’s draft, which will take place at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center in New York on June 22. The Pistons won’t be able to draft French phenom Victor Wembanyama — a tough result for a franchise coming off of an NBA-worst 17-65 season.
But like any other draft, there will be star talent outside of the top pick. And the Pistons will be in prime position to select from a talented group of players including G League Ignite guard Scoot Henderson, Alabama forward Brandon Miller, Overtime Elite twin guards Amen and Ausar Thompson and others.
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That player will join a talented group of young players including 2021 No. 1 overall pick Cade Cunningham, who will return next season after missing most of the 2022-23 with a shin injury and surgery, and 2023 All-Rookie Second Team selections Jalen Duren and Jaden Ivey.
Detroit will also have the first selection of Round 2, the 31st overall pick of the draft.
This year represented the 17th time the Pistons were in the lottery and the third year in a row they had a 14% chance at the No. 1 pick. They lucked out in 2021 and landed Cunningham, who finished third in 2022’s Rookie of the Year voting. That was also the only time their pick improved thanks to the lottery. In seven previous drawings, the Pistons dropped at least one spot (last year and in 2020, they dropped two spots). Eight other times, they remained in their original position.
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The Pistons had the No. 1 overall pick in the draft two times before selecting Cunningham: 1970, when they selected St. Bonaventure center — and eventual Basketball Hall of Famer — Bob Lanier, and 1967, when they beat out the ABA for Jimmy Walker, thanks to some recruitment from Pistons star — and future mayor of Detroit — Dave Bing. Walker would go on to father Michigan star Jalen Rose.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons lose Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes, land fifth pick