2012 NBA Draft: Detroit Pistons Sign 9th Pick Andre Drummond

• 11 months ago
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NBA Summer League 2012: Andre Drummond Has A Steep Learning Curve

Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond, the No. 9 pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, has as much potential as anyone in his class. He has Dwight Howard-type athleticism at 6-11 and 280 pounds. He fell to the ninth spot, though, for a reason: Drummond has a lot to learn about the mental and technical aspects of the game.

At Summer League in Orlando, the Pistons are finding out quickly just how steep his learning curve will be, via ESPN's Brian Windhorst.

The Pistons have been a bit surprised at how little Drummond actually knows about high-level basketball. If he was taught much about it at UConn, it didn't stick. They are having to go very slowly with him over certain basic concepts, especially as it pertains to managing a pick-and-roll.

...

"There's new terminology. I haven't heard some of these words before," Drummond said. "I ask a lot of questions. This whole summer league is a big learning experience for me as I move into training camp. I overthink sometimes and try to do it all."

As he's learning, Drummond is showing flashes of his potential with some highlight blocks and dunks. Overall, he was a bright spot in Wednesday's blowout loss to the Thunder, a game during which Detroit head coach Lawrence Frank made his way from the stands to the bench to give Drummond some one-on-one coaching.

Drummond is averaging 7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3 steals and 3.3 blocks in three Summer League games. His development will be one of the main storylines for the Pistons this coming season.

For more 2012 NBA Summer League coverage, stay with this StoryStream. For more on the Pistons, head over to Detroit Bad Boys. And for more NBA news this offseason, stick with SB Nation's NBA hub.

• 12 months ago
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NBA Draft Grades 2012: Detroit Pistons' Picks Have A Fan

The dust has all settled on the 2012 NBA Draft. In the wake of Thursday night's event, analysts have been rating, ranking and grading each team's selections. The Detroit Piston, who selected Andre Drummond with the first of three picks in the draft, drew solid marks from Andrew Sharp of SB Nation.

Selected C Andre Drummond No. 9, SF Khris Middleton No. 39, SG Kim English No. 44

Here was Sharp's take on the Pistons' draft class:

This was the ideal scenario for the Pistons. They were supposed to be in a weird spot at nine, in between about 20 different role players, but without any clear solution at center. Then Drummond fell past the Warriors and they got a chance at the last potential All-Star available AND a potential solution at center.

Drummond is raw, and who knows whether he'll ever be half as dominating as his physical tools suggest. That's what makes this pick a little tough to grade. But even if he never becomes Dwight Howard, he's still a huge presence who will rebound and block shots as well as anyone in the league. Give it time, and he should fit in perfectly next to Greg Monroe. I don't know much about Middleton, but adding English's shooting midway through the second round was icing on the cake. GRADE: B+

As with all draft grades, they could look very different in the years ahead.

For more 2012 NBA Draft coverage, stay with this StoryStream. For more Pistons coverage, be sure to visit Detroit Bad Boys. And for more NBA news and analysis following the draft, head over to SB Nation's NBA hub.

• 12 months ago
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NBA Draft 2012: Pistons' Andre Drummond Pick Brings Skeptics Out

Andre Drummond was almost a guaranteed lottery pick in this season's NBA Draft, but it was assumed that no matter where he went, there would be argument about his being selected. He's the prototypical '"high upside" guy, with all the tools and talent in the world but seemingly no ability to utilize them as well as you'd think.

When the Detroit Pistons went after him with their ninth overall selection in the draft, Pistons fans were immediately split on the young UConn prospect. Pistons blog Detroit Bad Boys knows exactly why, and they have the stats to back up why so many skeptics are out regarding Drummond:

Much like the Gordon-Maggette swap, Pistons fans are polarized. Many - if not most - are intrigued by his rare combination of strength, height, athleticism, and youth and envision him as the perfect pairing for Greg Monroe.

Others are more skeptical, not because they (okay, we) doubt any of those things. Drummond is undeniably a physical specimen, and you can't coach up the things he's naturally gifted with. We are skeptical because he hasn't yet shown that he is able to turn that wealth of talent into production on the basketball court.

It's the risk you always take with a prospect like Drummond. If he pans out, the Pistons will look like geniuses. If not, the analysts and skeptics will all just shake their heads and say 'told you so'.

For more 2012 NBA Draft coverage, stay with this StoryStream. For more Pistons coverage, be sure to visit Detroit Bad Boys. And for more NBA news and analysis following the draft, head over to SB Nation's NBA hub.

• 12 months ago
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NBA Draft 2012 Grades: Pistons Get Low Grade From CBS After Andre Drummond Selection

The Detroit Pistons made three selections in the NBA draft, but the only one that is getting much discussion seems to be No. 9 pick Andre Drummond out of UConn. It was expected that Drummond would bring controversy and argument with him wherever he was drafted -- some analysts think he'll shine in the NBA because of his superb upside, some think he'll bust hard because of the flaws in his game.

With that in mind, whatever an analyst thinks of Drummond is going to highly impact their grade for the Pistons. Matt Moore of CBS apparently isn't on the Drummond bandwagon, because in his draft grades he gave the Pistons a D+ for their draft. He cites Detroit's need for a 'sure thing' with the high pick after such a dismal season, along with the risk inherent in a pick like Drummond:

Andre Drummond (9): He's so talented, so physically gifted, but Joe Dumars needed more of a sure thing. Drummond is a nice kid -- too nice. He doesn't play with much intensity, hasn't developed any low-post moves and has a mediocre basketball IQ. I hate to kill this pick because, again, Drummond is a high-character kid. But this was a major risk, even at number nine.

Andre's a hard prospect to predict, and love him or hate him we're going to have to wait a couple of years before we see if he can blossom into the NBA star the Pistons are hoping for.

For more 2012 NBA Draft coverage, stay with this StoryStream. For more Pistons coverage, be sure to visit Detroit Bad Boys. And for more NBA news and analysis following the draft, head over to SB Nation's NBA hub.

• 12 months ago
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NBA Draft Results 2012: Andre Drummond Excited To Join Situation In Detroit

Before entering the University of Connecticut for his freshman, and only season, Andre Drummond had the physical size and athletic ability to be considered by many NBA observers as worthy of the top overall pick. After a lackluster season with the Huskies revealed a monster athlete in need of developing his basketball skills, Drummond moved down the draft board.

He didn't fall too far, though, as the Detroit Pistons made Drummond a lottery pick, selecting the big man with the ninth pick in the NBA Draft. Both the Pistons and Drummond appear extremely happy the draft played out the way it did, as Drummond can now join another young big man in Greg Monroe to create matchup problems for other teams in the Eastern Conference, where centers are scarce.

According to his post-draft comments, Drummond knows he landed in a good situation.

"All I know is I'm walking into a brotherhood right now, and I'm walking into a great family," Drummond said during a teleconference with assembled media. "I know the coaching staff and the organization is amazing. I'm going to grow as a player and a person.

"I know the fans are great out there, so I just can't wait to walk into this great situation."

For more 2012 NBA Draft coverage, stay with this StoryStream. For more Pistons coverage, be sure to visit Detroit Bad Boys. And for more NBA news and analysis following the draft, head over to SB Nation's NBA hub.

• 12 months ago
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2012 NBA Draft: SB Nation Mock Has Andre Drummond To Pistons

The 2012 NBA Draft is just about here, and everyone is pushing out their final mock drafts just before it all gets underway. SB Nation's Tom Ziller released his latest mock, and there's few surprises. What he does acknowledge early on is the fact that the mock draft will almost assuredly fall apart once the Charlotte Bobcats come up to pick at No. 2.

While we have a consensus on the No. 1 overall pick in Anthony Davis to the New Orleans Hornets, everything gets decidedly fuzzy after that point. With the Detroit Pistons picking all the way at No. 9 overall, it's anybody's guess as to who will be available. Still, Ziller does his best with the selection of Andre Drummond.

Drummond is a player that has been mocked to Detroit plenty of times, but many mocks have started to have him go before the Pistons actually get up to draft. He's an excellent player with not a lot of time played, so he is kind of all over the place, but the consensus now seems to be that the Pistons might be picking too late to acquire him. That being said, it is nice to see that there's a consensus on the fact that Detroit would take him if he's there.

For more on the Detroit Pistons, check out Detroit Bad Boys. You can also check out professional basketball news from around the league over at SB Nation's NBA page.

• 12 months ago
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NBA Mock Draft 2012: Pistons To Take John Henson, According To Chad Ford

The Detroit Pistons will take North Carolina power forward John Henson with the No. 9 pick in Thursday's NBA Draft, according to ESPN.com's Chad Ford (Insider).

The Pistons recently went to New York for an Andre Drummond workout, but Ford doesn't think Drummond, who played one year at UConn, will slide to No. 9.

According to Ford:

The Pistons, who desperately need size in the middle, are holding their breath that Drummond slides this far. If the Kings don't take him at No. 5, he just might. They like John Henson, too. They need length, athleticism and shot-blocking -- Henson provides all three.

DraftExpress.com predicts that Drummond will indeed slip to No. 9.

Ford goes on to list five more players on the Pistons' "Big Board," all of whom are big men.

For more on the Detroit Pistons, check out Detroit Bad Boys. You can also check out professional basketball news from around the league over at SB Nation's NBA page, or watch SB Nation's YouTube channel:

• 12 months ago
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NBA Draft 2012: With Pistons Picking 9th, MLive.com Look At 20 Years Of No. 9's

On Thursday MLive.com wrapped up its four-part series on the recent history of players taken at No. 9 in the NBA Draft.

The impetus for the series, of course, is that the Detroit Pistons will draft No. 9 in Thursday's NBA Draft. And as with most any spot in the Top 10, a look back shows there is plenty of boom, and plenty of bust.

Part I of the series ran from 1992-97, culminating with eventual two-time scoring champion and potential Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady. Part II, 1998-2001, includes studs like Dirk Nowitzki and Shawn Marion, but also Rodney White, who the Pistons took -- regrettably -- in 2001.

Part III, which spanned 2002-06, was highlighted by Amare Stoudemire, the No. 9 overall selection in 2002 and future Rookie of the Year, and low-lighted by Patrick O'Bryant, who landed in the D-League before playing abroad in Greece, China and Puerto Rico.

Which brings us to Part IV. Jaokim Noah, the No. 9 pick in 2007, has had the best career to date, but it's probably too soon to tell with some of the other players -- Gordon Hayward in 2010 and Kemba Walker in 2011.

At any rate, the series shows that for all the upside available at No. 9, there is still plenty of risk for the Pistons.

For more on the Detroit Pistons, check out Detroit Bad Boys. You can also check out professional basketball news from around the league over at SB Nation's NBA page, or watch SB Nation's YouTube channel:

• 12 months ago
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2012 NBA Draft: Pistons Schedule Last-Minute Workout With Andre Drummond, According To Report

The Detroit Pistons recently flew to New York to see a workout with former UConn center Andre Drummond, according to ESPN.com's Chad Ford:

Sources say that the Pistons flew to NY to see Andre Drummond workout on Tuesday evening just in case he slides to 9.

— Chad Ford (@chadfordinsider) June 28, 2012

Drummond, a 7-footer, played one season with the Huskies. He averaged 10 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.7 blocks.

Drummond is believed by some to have upside worthy of the No. 2 pick, but as Ford said on a recent podcast, there are questions about the 18-year-old's work ethic:

...this isn't a question of his character, by the way -- he doesn't have a clue what it takes to be a great NBA player. He doesn't understand the work that's got to be put in, how hard it is, all the obstacles and challenges he's going to face. He doesn't have a clue.

Drummond was at his worst in UConn's second-round NCAA Tournament loss to Iowa State, when he had two points and three rebounds.

On Wednesday, SB Nation's Mock Draft had Drummond going No. 3 overall to the Washington Wizards. DraftExpress.com's current mock draft projects the Pistons taking Drummond, while an ESPN mock draft has him going No. 5 to the Sacramento Kings.

For more on the Detroit Pistons, check out Detroit Bad Boys. You can also check out professional basketball news from around the league over at SB Nation's NBA page, or watch SB Nation's YouTube channel:

• 12 months ago
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NBA Draft 2012: Pistons Probably Going Big, According To Report

The Detroit Pistons will likely use their No. 9 pick in Thursday's NBA Draft on a big man, according to an article from The Detroit Free Press.

Writer Vince Ellis says that the Pistons have a lot of options -- but that those options are almost invariably forwards and centers. He lists North Carolina's John Henson (6-10), Illinois' Meyers Leonard (7-feet), UConn's Andre Drummond (7-feet), North Carolina's Tyler Zeller (7-feet) and Baylor's Perry Jones (6-11) as the likely targets.

From the article:

Henson is the likely pick. The Pistons like his makeup and, despite concerns about his frame, he was able to gain nearly 40 pounds during his three seasons at North Carolina, so he figures to put the work in. He projects to be a plus defender, and with shot-blocking at a premium with the way the game is called now, Henson figures to be a contributor.

Leonard could help the Pistons with his presence, allowing them to move Monroe to power forward. But he was unable to dominate the Big Ten, so teams are worried about his bust potential.

The Pistons could take Drummond -- if he gets past the Warriors at No. 7. The 6-foot-11 center was projected to battle Anthony Davis for top-pick honors before an uneven freshman season at UConn.

DraftExpress.com predicts that the Pistons will take Drummond, who averaged 10.0 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game in his one season at UConn.

DraftExpress has Henson going No. 11 and Zeller No. 12, so they could well be available when Detroit picks.

For more on the Detroit Pistons, check out Detroit Bad Boys. You can also check out professional basketball news from around the league over at SB Nation's NBA page, or watch SB Nation's YouTube channel:

• 12 months ago
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NBA Draft 2012: Start Time, TV Coverage, Results, Grades And More

Draft Day is finally here. After another year out of the playoffs, the Detroit Pistons will add another first-round pick to their roster Thursday night.

The Pistons hold the No. 9 pick in the draft. If you've been following mock drafts, you're aware that Detroit is said to be leaning toward going big. UNC's John Henson, a lanky but mobile shot-blocker, is thought to be a good fit next to Greg Monroe in the frontcourt. UConn's freakishly athletic but maddeningly inconsistent Andre Drummond has also been linked to the Pistons recently. Drummond was previously considered a sure-fire top five pick.

The 2012 NBA Draft will begin on Thursday, June 28, at 7 p.m. ET and will be televised on ESPN. Complete draft analysis starts at 5:30 p.m. ET on NBA TV.

• 12 months ago
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2012 NBA Mock Draft: Andre Drummond To Pistons At No. 9, Projects Draft Express

With the 2012 NBA Draft coming up on Thursday night, teams are starting to narrow in on the guys they hope to add to their system. In addition, fans are looking for any and all projections to see what kind of pick their team may be bringing in.

In the most recent mock draft published by DraftExpress.com, the site has the Detroit Pistons selecting Andre Drummond from the University of Connecticut with the No. 9 overall selection. A seven-foot, 279 pound, 18-year old, Drummond is a large man who averaged 10 points, 2.7 blocks, 7.6 rebounds and 28.4 minutes per game last season over the course of 34 games played at UConn.

While Drummond is certainly a strong candidate to be selected in the first half of the draft, it's important to note that several reports from early this week are strongly hinting that the Pistons are interested in selecting North Carolina's John Henson with the No. 9 pick.

However, with the draft only a few days away, anything and everything could change in a moment's notice.

For more 2012 NBA Draft coverage, stay with SB Nation Detroit's StoryStream. For more on the Pistons, check out Detroit Bad Boys. And for more NBA coverage, be sure to visit SB Nation's NBA hub.

• 12 months ago
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NBA Draft Trade Rumors: Pistons Looking For Additional First-Rounder For Jared Sullinger?

Following Monday's superstar workout, many are left believing that the Detroit Pistons plan on selecting North Carolina's John Henson with the No. 9 overall selection in the 2012 NBA Draft on Thursday night. In a workout that had the likes of Baylor's Perry Jones III, Illinois' Meyers Leonard, North Carolina's Tyler Zeller and Kentucky's Terrence Jones, Henson apparently stood out the most and made an impact on those in attendance.

Ohio State's Jared Sullinger was also at the workout and apparently has fallen off the Pistons radar for the No. 9 selection. However, that doesn't mean the Pistons don't have interest in Sullinger.

#Pistons workout: Henson solid and Sullinger off board for ninth pick. Possible they could trade back into late first round for Sullinger.

— Freep Pistons (@freeppistons) June 26, 2012

When Sullinger was medically red-flagged by the NBA's doctors on June 18, the projected lottery selection's stock began to plummet, which is where the Pistons' interest comes into play. It is believed that if Sullinger drops into the bottom third of the first round that Detroit will make a play to acquire a late-round pick to try and select him.

For more 2012 NBA Draft coverage, stay with SB Nation Detroit's StoryStream. For more on the Pistons, check out Detroit Bad Boys. And for more NBA coverage, be sure to visit SB Nation's NBA hub.

• 12 months ago
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2012 NBA Draft: Draymond Green Works Out For Pacers Again, Likely Candidate At No. 26

On Tuesday, Michigan State's Draymond Green worked out for the Indiana Pacers for a second time in anticipation of the 2012 NBA Draft coming up on Thursday. The call-back has increased the speculation that the Pacers are interested in selecting Green with the No. 26 overall selection.

Via LSJ.com:

"Most people say it's a good thing if you're going back for a second time."

"I had a very good workout the first time I went there," Green said of Indy and sessions that typically last an hour and change and involve some 3-on-3, some 1-on-1 and a few drills. "It wasn't a complete surprise that I got called back."

To this point, Green has participated in workouts with 11 other teams, including the Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs and the reigning NBA champion Miami Heat.

For more 2012 NBA Draft coverage, stay with SB Nation Detroit's StoryStream. For more on the Pistons, check out Detroit Bad Boys. And for more NBA coverage, be sure to visit SB Nation's NBA hub.

• 12 months ago
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NBA Draft 2012: John Henson Stands Out At Workout Full Of Prospects In Detroit

On Monday afternoon, the Detroit Pistons hosted what was considered a high priority workout full of prospects who the team potentially could select at the No. 9 overall pick at Thursday's draft. The attendees included Ohio State's Jared Sullinger, North Carolina's John Henson, Baylor's Perry Jones III, Illinois' Meyers Leonard, North Carolina's Tyler Zeller, and Kentucky's Terrence Jones.

According to ESPN's Chad Ford, Henson was the big standout at the workout impressing those in attendance with his performance.

Big workout in Detroit today between John Henson, Meyers Leonard, Tyler Zeller, Jared Sullinger, Perry Jones, Terrence Jones ...

— Chad Ford (@chadfordinsider) June 25, 2012

Sounds like Henson was the big standout in the Detroit workout. Mock Draft 9.1 coming in 3, 2, 1 ...

— Chad Ford (@chadfordinsider) June 25, 2012

According to Ford's mock draft published on June 19, he projected that the Pistons would select Henson at No. 9 overall. If they were as impressed as he made it seem, that projection may come true.

For more 2012 NBA Draft coverage, stay with SB Nation Detroit's StoryStream. For more on the Pistons, check out Detroit Bad Boys. And for more NBA coverage, be sure to visit SB Nation's NBA hub. You can also watch SB Nation's YouTube channel:

• 12 months ago
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2012 NBA Mock Draft: Pistons Pick Up Jared Sullinger In SB Nation's Team Bloggers Mock

This week's SB Nation 2012 NBA Mock Draft was a bit different from the usual norm. Instead of Tom Ziller writing it, the various blogs around the SBN network made the picks. Detroit Bad Boys made the pick for the Detroit Pistons at No. 9 and they went for a different tune than most mocks had been singing recently.

Rather than going for a big guy to help out Greg Monroe with some of his shortcomings, they went with the smaller Jared Sullinger out of Ohio State:

If any team in the league has the training capacity to take on a developmental red flag like this one, it's the Detroit Pistons. If Sullinger's career does end early, in six or seven years, he may still outpace most draftees at the #9 spot.

While Sullinger does not present the above-the-rim, defensive shot blocker that would neutralize Greg Monroe's weaknesses, he might be serviceable enough to make for an average frontcourt defense. In terms of rebounding and frontcourt scoring, Sullinger might be the best option in the draft after Anthony Davis and Thomas Robinson. Detroit can do a whole lot worse at #9, but I can't see them doing any better than Jared Sullinger.

It's really going to depend on draft day if the Pistons are looking for someone big or someone who can help jumpstart their offense. Despite the injury issues, Sullinger seems like a hard pick to go wrong with.

For more 2012 NBA Draft coverage, be sure to stay right here with SB Nation Detroit's StoryStream. For more on the Pistons, head over to Detroit Bad Boys. And for more NBA news and analysis, check out SB Nation's NBA hub.

• 12 months ago
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NBA Draft 2012: Pistons Hoping To Gain Valuable Insight From Monday's Jam-Packed Workout

The Detroit Pistons and general manager Joe Dumars face a bevy of options with the No. 9 overall pick heading into Thursday's 2012 NBA Draft. But the underlying theme for Dumars right now, as he looks to repair a squad that lost 93 games over the past two seasons combined, is that he needs to acquire another competent big man to pair with 2010 1st round pick Greg Monroe.

And in a relatively strong year for power forwards and centers, there are a number of scenarios that could arise where the Pistons could literally have the pick of the litter of the lottery-bound big men in their range at No. 9. So in preparation, Dumars and company will invite every single one of their potential targets to Auburn Hills on Monday for what could prove to be a pivotal scrimmage.

Six 1st round picks, Ohio State's Jared Sullinger, North Carolina's John Henson, Baylor's Perry Jones III, Illinois' Meyers Leonard, North Carolina's Tyler Zeller, and Kentucky's Terrence Jones, will each be on hand for Monday's showdown at the team's practice facility. In what is sure to be a heated battle in the paint all day as the potential draftees quite literally jockey for position, Pistons decision-makers will most likely get their final look at the player they will eventually select with the 9th pick.

Henson, who is widely considered the most logical choice of the six men, has been rising up draft boards slightly as of late and may no longer be on the board when the Pistons are on the clock. That could then open the door for Leonard, a legit seven-footer who tested out quite well athletically and still has plenty of room to grow into his NBA frame.

Regardless of which big man eventually hears his name called by the Pistons at No. 9 (barring a trade, of course), it's clear that Monday's workout could stand to influence the organization's final decision more than it probably should. Getting a chance to see guys like Leonard and Henson face off 1-on-1 is an invaluable tool for a franchise that cannot afford to whiff on another draft pick, and it's possible that the most impressive player on Monday might just wind up in a Pistons uniform by this time next week.

For more 2012 NBA Draft coverage, be sure to stay right here with SB Nation Detroit's StoryStream. For more on the Pistons, head over to Detroit Bad Boys. And for more NBA news and analysis, check out SB Nation's NBA hub.

• 12 months ago
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Pistons Draft Rumors: Could Draymond Green Slip To Detroit In Second Round?

More and more draft analysts are projecting Michigan State forward Draymond Green as a late first-round pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. Nevertheless, this year features a deep group of prospects which means some players capable of going in the opening round of the draft could slide into the second, including Draymond Green.

Keith Langlois at Pistons.com says not to rule out that possibility. After all, it was a bit of surprise when Kyle Singler fell to them in the second round of last year's draft.

[NBA teams] all take Tom Izzo, whose opinion is highly respected across the league, at his word when he sings Green's praises, yet there is a measure of doubt over what NBA position Green will be able to handle.

The Pistons likely know Green as thoroughly as they've ever understood a prospective draft choice. At the Chicago draft combine earlier this month, Green spoke of the value of his relationship with Joe Dumars, whose son Jordan and Green's paths crossed on the AAU circuit.

In the most recent NBA Mock Draft from Tom Ziller at SB Nation, Green was projected as the Indiana Pacers' pick at No. 26. It looks like Green has done more than enough to secure his first-round status, but with potential trades and other plot twists at the draft, anything could happen.

For more on the Michigan State Spartans, go to The Only Colors. You can also learn more about college basketball around the nation at SB Nation's College Basketball hub. For more on the Detroit Pistons, check out Detroit Bad Boys. You can also check out professional basketball news from around the league over at SB Nation's NBA page, or watch SB Nation's YoutTube channel:

• 12 months ago
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NBA Draft Rumors: Draymond Green's Versatility Drawing Praise, According To Report

Former Michigan State Spartan Draymond Green showcased his versatility at a recent workout with the Atlanta Hawks, according to an article from FoxSportsSouth.com.

The article says that Green's versatility, on display in Atlanta, will be a prized commodity on draft day. And Green is nothing if not versatile: As a senior last season, he led the Spartans in scoring, rebounding, steals, field goals and three-points. His 10.6 boards per game were also tops in the Big Ten.

The article quotes Hawks coach Larry Drew:

"I think he's going to be a terrific NBA player," Atlanta Hawks coach Larry Drew said Tuesday after the team put several prospects through pre-draft workouts. "I don't think there's enough players like him that bring a little bit of everything to the game. But he certainly is that type of player, that caliber of player....

"I think he can develop into a three. I think he has that versatility where you can move him around. A lot of it depends on matchups. But I think he has the foot speed and the size to play the four, and I think that's just going to be a plus for him and his game to move from the three to the four," Drew said after watching Green work out. "As I said before, this league is really starting to move more toward that versatile player, a guy who can play multiple positions. And he certainly fits that profile."

DraftExpress.com, one of the Web's eminent NBA mock draft sites, currently has the 6-7 Green going to the Oklahoma City Thunder at No. 28 overall.

For more on the Michigan State Spartans, go to The Only Colors. You can also learn more about college basketball around the nation at SB Nation's College Basketball hub. For more on the Detroit Pistons, check out Detroit Bad Boys. You can also check out professional basketball news from around the league over at SB Nation's NBA page, or watch SB Nation's YoutTube channel:

• 12 months ago
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2012 NBA Mock Draft: Pistons Select Andre Drummond In Latest SB Nation Mock

In Tom Ziller's latest 2012 NBA Mock Draft, the Detroit Pistons once again go with for the 'Pistons going to grab size' meme that has been filling mock drafts for quite a while now. This time it's in a bit more of a high-risk form as they grab 7'0'' center Andre Drummond out of the University of Connecticut.

As I remain convinced that Lillard and Marshall will go inside the top 10, I'm pretty confident that Drummond will drop. "Unskilled with an embattled reputation as a hard worker" isn't a red flag. It's a poison label. But at some point in the first round, the potential reward outweighs the risk. I think it's right around here. (And I think Ben Wallace gets hired as a big man coach specifically to work with Drummond on everything but free throws.)

Drummond has been projected to go all over the place since he's been tagged with the 'high risk but potential high reward' tag. Kind of the new, slightly lesser Hasheem Thabeet, if you will. Lots of size, lots of potential but a lot of ability that is usually described as 'raw' more than anything.

Pick No. 9 might actually be a bit too high for Drummond in the eyes of some scouts and analysts but at some point higher up in the draft, a seven footer out of a school like UCONN is going to go and ninth overall is as good a time as any for a team like the Pistons looking for big guys.

For more 2012 NBA Draft coverage, stay with SB Nation Detroit's StoryStream. For more on the Pistons, check out Detroit Bad Boys. And for more NBA coverage, be sure to visit SB Nation's NBA hub. You can also watch SB Nation's YouTube channel:

• 12 months ago
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NBA Draft 2012: Pistons Projected To Select John Henson In Latest Mock

In the most recent mock draft released by ESPN's Chad Ford on Tuesday morning, the Detroit Pistons are projected to select North Carolina's John Henson with the No. 9 overall pick. The six-foot-ten, 216 pound power forward is strong on the boards and potentially has room to develop. Henson is a two-time ACC defensive player of the year and averaged 13.8 points and 10.8 rebounds per game as a junior last season.

Here is what Ford has to say about Henson via ESPN.com:

Greg Monroe has been a revelation in the middle for the Pistons, but they really need to pair him alongside an athletic shot-blocker. Although Henson is painfully thin, he rebounds, blocks shots and defends multiple positions. It wouldn't be a perfect solution in Detroit, but the Pistons don't have a lot of other options here unless they want to reach a bit for Meyers Leonard, who might be worth it after his stellar showing at the draft combine.

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NBA Draft 2012: Former Spartan Morris Peterson Endorses Draymond Green

Former Michigan State standout Morris Peterson sang the praises of Draymond Green in an interview with DetroitSports360.com.

Green, a 2012 All-American, averaged 16.2 points and a Big Ten-best 10.6 boards last season.

Peterson, a first-round draft pick in 2000 who went on to have an 11-year NBA career, said that despite concerns about Green's 6-7 height, he'll be an asset in the NBA:

"You know what? Draymond has his head on straight," Peterson said by phone Friday. "He's one of those kids who won state championships (back-to-back with Saginaw High in 2007 and 2008). He understands what it takes to win. You can't teach that.

"He just has that in him," Peterson said. "Doesn't matter how high you jump, how fast you run. You have to use your mind....

"Well, I think he does a lot of stuff that doesn't end up on paper or in the stat sheet," Peterson said. "That's big for a guy like him. He does so many different things; he's a great passer, a rebounder. Just that leadership man, a guy like him... I watched his career, I watched him grow. You can see that work ethic. Every time I see him, he's picking my brain and asking what he can do to get better."

Praise from Peterson carries some weight. The Flint native averaged 16.8 points per game during the Spartans' run to the 2000 national title. That season he shot 46.5 percent from the floor and 42.5 percent from downtown and was named a second-team All-American.

According to DraftExpress.com's most recent mock, Green is slated to go No. 28 overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder.

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NBA Draft 2012: Potential Pistons Target Jared Sullinger Red Flagged By Doctors, According To Report

Ohio State's Jared Sullinger has been medically red flagged by NBA doctors, according to a report filed by ESPN.com on Monday night. Sullinger was projected to be a lottery pick in the 2012 NBA Draft on June 28, but now possible concerns with his back may be the impetus in a free-fall for the big man.

Sullinger's agent, David Falk, stated that he wasn't in a position to give comment on the situation at this time, while Sullinger's father, Satch, believed that the injury would not be a problem.

Via ESPN.com:

"He had a bulging area that was due to his hamstring and quads being so tight," Satch Sullinger told ESPN.com senior college basketball writer Andy Katz in a phone call Monday afternoon. "It pulled on his hip flexor and he's been taking care of it to loosen it. You can call it a red flag if you want. But it's tight hamstring and tight quads. He's been to doctors, he's doing yoga and deep tissue massage. The flexibility is helping take the pressure off the area.

"We've got nothing to hide. At this stage it's all about what they can't do. Jared is a skilled player. A two-time All-American. He can play."

The NBA's doctors do not agree with this evaluation. According to the report, a number of league doctors have reviewed the report and have advised their respective front offices that Sullinger's back injury could shorten his career. Some have even gone as far to advise their teams not to select Sullinger in the first round.

Sullinger is scheduled to work out for the Pistons next week.

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Pistons To Host Workout Next Week With Potential Candidates For No. 9 Selection

Next Monday, the Detroit Pistons will host a workout with some of the more impressive prospects in the 2012 NBA Draft to be held on June 28. After holding workouts last week that had players who were expected candidates for the team's later round picks, this workout will undoubtedly be used to narrow down the player the team hopes to take at No. 9.

The workout will include Jared Sullinger, Tyler Zeller, Meyers Leonard, John Henson, Terrence Jones and Perry Jones.

Awesome workout in Detroit next Monday for No. 9 pick: Sullinger, Zeller, Leonard, Henson, T. Jones, P. Jones

— Chad Ford (@chadfordinsider) June 18, 2012

In previous mock drafts, the Pistons have been projected to select Zeller, who potentially would be a steal at No. 9.

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NBA Draft 2012: Pistons Work Out 15 Prospects

On Saturday morning, the Detroit Pistons released a list of 15 players who have worked out for the organization in anticipation of the 2012 NBA Draft, which is going to be held on June 28. While the Pistons' first-round selection is currently slated at the No. 9 overall pick, the team also has picks at No. 39 and No. 44 overall. The players on this list are assumed to be candidates for the later picks.

Here is the list via MLive.com:

CENTER

Henry Sims, 6-11 ¾, 241.2, Georgetown

FORWARD/CENTER

Arnett Moultrie, 6-10 ¾, 232.8, Mississippi State

Kyle O'Quinn, 6-10, 240.8, Norfolk State

FORWARD

Quincy Acy, 6-7 ¾, 223.8, Baylor

JaMychal Green, 6-9, 217.4, Alabama

*Eli Holman, 6-9, 250, Detroit Mercy

*Josh Owens, 6-8, 240, Stanford

Miles Plumlee, 6-11 ¾, 252.4, Duke

GUARD/FORWARD

*Alex Young, 6-6, 215, IUPUI

GUARD

William Buford, 6-5, 214.6, Ohio State

*Scoop Jardine, 6-3, 200, Syracuse

Orlando Johnson, 6-5 ¼, 223.8, UC Santa Barbara

*Devoe Joseph, 6-4, 180, Oregon

Scott Machado, 6-2, 205.8, Iona

Kevin Murphy, 6-6 ¼, 194, Tennessee Tech

*--Indicates player was not invited to NBA Draft Combine and measurements are unofficial.

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NBA Mock Draft 2012: Pistons Projected To Select Tyler Zeller At No. 9

On Wednesday, Sports Illustrated's most recent mock draft was released and it had the Detroit Pistons selecting center Tyler Zeller out of North Carolina with the No. 9 overall selection on June 29 at the NBA Draft. Zeller stands at seven-foot-one and weighs close to 250 pounds, which makes him a strong candidate to help out Greg Monroe, which is something that SI's Sam Amick believes the team will try to do.

Here is the rest of Amick's opinion via SportsIllustrated.com:

Sacramento isn't the only team contemplating Zeller and Henson as complementary pieces to its emerging center; Detroit is searching for help for Greg Monroe. I'm sticking with Zeller here because he has fewer red flags than Henson (specifically the fact that the latter is rail-thin and not very strong) and a more versatile game that could lead to a long and productive career. Zeller averaged 16.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks as a senior while earning the ACC Player of the Year award. Henson won the ACC Defensive Player of the Year award the last two seasons, but he also jumped just 30 inches at the combine and managed only five repetitions on the 185-pound bench press (Marquette forward Jae Crowder had the highest mark at 20 reps).

It's important to note that Amick believes that Zeller potentially could be selected at No. 5 overall by the Sacramento Kings. Ultimately, Zeller is believed to be a solid pro and could end up being a steal for the Pistons at nine.

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NBA Draft 2012: John Henson Remains Likely Pick For Pistons, According To Mock Draft

Last week, DraftExpress said that North Carolina big man John Henson was a likely target for the Detroit Pistons in the upcoming NBA Draft.

This week, that prediction stands.

There is consensus forming around the narrative that the Pistons will (or at least should) draft a post player in this year's draft. DraftExpress is convinced it's Henson, while CBSSports.com thinks that the Pistons will take Illinois 7-footer Meyers Leonard.

According to DraftExpress, the lottery will be chock full of big men: No. 1 (Anthony Davis), No. 2 (Thomas Robinson), No. 5 (Andre Drummond), No. 6 (Jared Sullinger) and No. 9 -- whoever the Pistons take.

Henson, a 6-11, 220-pound forward, averaged 13.7 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.9 blocks last season, and did so in less than 30 minutes per game. He played three seasons at UNC.

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2012 NBA Draft: Draymond Green To Work Out For Timberwolves On Tuesday

Michigan State's Draymond Green will work out for the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday at the Target Center, according to the Star Tribune's Kent Youngblood.

Green will join a group that also includes Royce White of Iowa State, Drew Gordon of New Mexico, Jordan Taylor of Wisconsin, Reggie Hamilton of Oakland University and Herb Pope of Seton Hall.

Green was named MSU's Male Athlete of the year on Monday. He has already worked out for the Golden State Warriors, Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics as well as participating in the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago. The forward is projected to be a late first round to early second round pick in the upcoming draft, which will take place on June 28 at the Prudential Center in New Jersey.

More news and analysis on the NBA can be found over at SB Nation's NBA hub, and more on the upcoming draft can be found at the specialized NBA Draft hub.

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Pistons NBA Draft Rumors: Detroit May Benefit From Looking Big With No. 9 Pick

The Detroit Pistons may look to bolster their front court depth with the ninth pick in the NBA Draft on June 28th. With the makeup of the draft revealing itself in pre-draft workouts and the Chicago combine, the Pistons will benefit from a wealth of options at the big forward spot in the top half of this year's draft class.

Whether it be a player like North Carolina's John Henson or Connecticut's Andre Drummond dropping down the board or prospect like Carolina's Tyler Zeller or Baylor's Perry Jones working their way up the draft board in pre-draft camps, the Pistons should have options with which player they want to choose with their top pick. But that player most-likely be big, as this story from the Detroit News mentions.

Last year, most thought the Pistons would take a big man to pair alongside Greg Monroe. When Brandon Knight fell in the order, however, the Pistons jumped at the chance, having been impressed in their interviews - and his game.

Picking at No. 9, Pistons president Joe Dumars wouldn't divulge who they were looking to draft. He didn't deny the reports about the big men many believe best fit the system.

Of course, there are plenty of other rumors about late lottery draft picks being traded, so there remains plenty to be determined before the Pistons zero in on their guy in this year's draft.

For more 2012 NBA Draft coverage, stay with SB Nation Detroit's StoryStream. For more on the Pistons, check out Detroit Bad Boys. And for more NBA coverage, be sure to visit SB Nation's NBA hub.

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2012 NBA Mock Draft: Pistons Select Meyers Leonard In CBS Mock

There has been a lot of talk about the Detroit Pistons using their No. 9 NBA Draft selection to add some size and grit to their team going into next season. CBSSports.com appears to agree with that sentiment, in their newest 2012 NBA Mock Draft they send Illinois C Meyers Leonard to the Pistons.

Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois: He's a legitimate 7-footer who is a freak athlete and can be a true center in the league. Sure, he needs to get tougher -- but his upside is ridiculous.

As is said in the profile, Leonard is 7'0'' and projects as a center or a power forward/center mix in the NBA. He put up solid numbers with the Fighting Illini in 2011/2012, with 13.6 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. If the Pistons really are bent on improving the size of their team going into next season, they could certainly do worse than go with Leonard at No. 9 overall.

For more 2012 NBA Draft coverage, stay with SB Nation Detroit's StoryStream. For more on the Pistons, check out Detroit Bad Boys. And for more NBA coverage, be sure to visit SB Nation's NBA hub.

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NBA Draft 2012: Pistons To Work Out John Henson Three Days Before Draft

The Detroit Pistons could be looking at a handful of different scenarios when it's finally time for the No. 9 overall pick to be called later this month. And with more than a half-dozen intriguing power forward and center prospects each slotted for the 5-15 range, general manager Joe Dumars knows he needs to take a hard look at the litany of guys he is likely to see when the Pistons are on the clock.

Near the top of Dumars' preliminary list appears to be North Carolina's John Henson, as the veteran GM has already set up a workout date of June 25 for the junior forward to come to Detroit just three days before the draft. Currently projected to be selected ninth by the Pistons by both Draft Express and NBADraft.net's latest mock drafts, Henson mentioned to the Detroit Free Press that he believes he will joined at his Detroit workout by fellow 2012 big men Jared Sullinger, Perry Jones, and Terrence Jones.

The 6-foot-10 Henson is one of the best shot-blockers in the class, and his lanky frame ensures that his defensive abilities will be able to translate well to the pros. In addition to being a stout rebounder with a soft touch around the basket, Henson gained three years of valuable experience as a fixture down low for one of the most stacked lineups in America. Even though his lack of girth makes it hard to believe he can play much center in the NBA, Henson is an immensely talented forward who would significantly upgrade the Pistons' front line.

For more 2012 NBA Draft coverage, stay with SB Nation Detroit's StoryStream. For more on the Pistons, check out Detroit Bad Boys. And for more NBA coverage, be sure to visit SB Nation's NBA hub.

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NBA Draft 2012: Andre Drummond Might Fall To Pistons

During the season, it was a near lock that Connecticut's Andre Drummond would be picked somewhere in the top-five. But at the NBA combine, the buzz was that Drummond might be there for the Detroit Pistons at No. 9, according to Keith Langlois of Pistons.com.

If Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Bradley Beal are next off the board after Davis, Cleveland could look hard at Drummond at No. 4. Portland is another possibility at 6 – or the Trail Blazers are prime candidates to trade out of that spot to a team targeting Drummond. But if Drummond slips past 6, there’s a chance he’ll be on the board when the Pistons pick at No. 9.

Langlois went on to add that many of the players the Pistons were tied to at the combine had up-and-down college careers. Those players included Perry Jones III and Quincy Miller of Baylor.

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2012 NBA Mock Draft: Pistons Take Andre Drummond, According to SB Nation Mock

The Detroit Pistons will select former UConn Husky Andre Drummond with the ninth pick in this summer's NBA Draft, according to SB Nation's NBA mock guru Tom Ziller.

From his full mock draft:

I'm eager to hear where Drummond's floor ends up. If he impresses Geoff Petrie with raw talent, it could be No. 5 at the Kings. If he has a less successful pre-draft run, it could be Detroit at No. 9 ... or worse. He's a big ol' mystery right now. I'm not sure Lawrence Frank (cue the Brook Lopez drop) is the right coach, or that Drummond is the right partner in crime for Greg Monroe. But remember that the Pistons desperately wanted Cousins in '10, despite the warts. A similar situation could be in place, and if Drummond drops, it could end up paying huge dividends for a not-bad Detroit team.

Drummond, a 6-10, 270-pound center, averaged 10.0 points and 7.6 rebounds as a freshman last season. He shot 53.8 percent from the floor but supplemented that with a comically low 29.5 percent clip from the foul line.

Drummond was a no-show in the Huskies' first-round NCAA Tournament loss to Iowa State, scoring just two points and grabbing three rebounds in 26 minutes. But he did show flashes in his one season at Storrs, which figures to be enough to thrust him into the Lottery.

DraftExpress' most recent mock draft has Drummond going No. 5 to the Kings.

For more on the Detroit Pistons, check out Detroit Bad Boys. You can also check out professional basketball news from around the league over at SB Nation's NBA page, or at SB Nation's YouTube channel:

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NBA Mock Draft: Pistons Take John Henson In Pre-Lottery Mock

The NBA Lottery will take place on Wednesday evening when all of the teams in the bottom 14 of the league will find out where exactly they will be picking in the Anthony Davis sweepstakes. It hasn't happened yet, so there's still time for a mock draft or two with the teams picking in the order of how likely they are to get the first overall pick rather than the pick they'll actually end up with.

The Detroit Pistons have the ninth most combos in the lottery and so probably won't be sniffing the top where they can get Anthony Davis, but there's still plenty of talent at ninth overall where DraftExpress has the Pistons picking up John Henson out of North Carolina.

DraftExpress' scouting profile of Henson shows the power forward as having a unique and still growing game, as he improved his skills every single year he was at UNC:

John Henson has steadily improved his game in each of his three seasons in Chapel Hill, but the former top-5 high school recruit is still nowhere near his potential, which is scary given how key a role he already plays on one of the best teams in college basketball.

...

On the offensive end, Henson has greatly improved his post-game in his three years at UNC, and has developed a solid go-to move in his unorthodox left-handed hook shot, which he uses far more often than his natural right hand. Henson's post game is unconventional in style, something that stems largely from his very unique physical characteristics, namely his very long legs and superb coordination and balance for his size.

The site ranks Henson as the 11th best prospect in the draft overall. If Detroit gets lucky, they may find themselves with a far better group of prospects in the top couple of picks after the lottery on Wednesday night is over.

For more on the Detroit Pistons, head over to Detroit Bad Boys. More news and information on the NBA in general as the draft approaches can be found over at SB Nation's dedicated NBA hub.

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NBA Draft 2012: Time, TV Schedule And More For This Year's Lottery

The Pistons are entering one of their more important lotteries in franchise history on Wednesday night in New York City. The Pistons will be one of the 14 teams hoping that lady luck is on their side for a chance at the No. 1 overall pick of a fairly deep draft. The Pistons are currently in the No. 9 spot, so their odds are not good. They have just a 6.1-percent chance of landing in the top three and a 1.7-percent chance of the No. 1 overall pick.

Rising second year guard Brandon Knight will represent the Pistons at the lottery.

WHAT: 2012 NBA Draft Lottery

WHERE: Times Square, New York City

WHEN: May 30, 2012

TIME: 8 p.m. ET

TV: ESPN

After the lottery, Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Heat and Celtics will take place. The Heat are up 1-0 after a relatively easy Game 1 behind another 30-10 performance from LeBron James.

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2012 NBA Draft: Brandon Knight Will Represent Pistons At Lottery

As they did for the 2011 NBA Draft Lottery, the Detroit Pistons will be sending their previous year's top pick to the lottery in hopes to lucking their way into a better pick:

@BrandonKnight12 will represent #Pistons at draft lottery next week. @MooseGM10 did it last season.

— Vincent Ellis (@VinceEllis56) May 24, 2012

The Pistons finished the 2012 lockout shortened season with the NBA's ninth worst record, so that's where they are currently expected to pick. Last year, Monroe saw the Pistons fall back a spot to No. 8 overall after finishing with the seventh worst record in the league.

The 2012 NBA Draft lottery will be next Wednesday, May 30 at 8:00 p.m. ET on ESPN, before Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

For more on the Detroit Pistons, check out Detroit Bad Boys. For more on the NBA in general, head to the SB Nation NBA hub at sbnation.com/NBA.

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2012 NBA Draft: Detroit Pistons Look Good For High Lottery Pick

The Detroit Pistons are slated to get a pretty high lottery pick in the 2012 NBA draft if their season continues at the bad pace it's been on.