NBA Draft Lottery night is upon us, and there’s just so much at stake.
The Pistons are once again tied for the best odds to land the top pick -- and if they do, not only would it be the second time they landed it in the last three years, but they’d land one of the highest rated basketball prospects in the last 20 years.
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The top prize in this year’s draft -- Victor Wembanyama. A 7′2″ center from France who plays positionless basketball. He can shoot from anywhere, score efficiently and seamlessly, and he plays defense.
Affectionally known as Wemby, he’s a once-in-a-lifetime basketball prospect. And if Pistons lands the first pick, Wemby would easily become the most popular athlete in Detroit.
Detroit has never seen the likes of a potential international superstar like Wemby. He’d immediately make the Pistons a must-watch team, joining a young core that includes former top pick Cade Cunningham, and last year’s first round picks Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren.
---> Wembanyama about to learn his NBA destination, with the draft lottery on Tuesday
The Pistons haven’t been seriously competitive in more than a decade. Landing Wemby would bolster all rebuilding and restoring (whatever the GM wants to call it), clicking fast-forward on the timeline to be a watchable basketball team yet again.
The Rockets, San Antonio and Detroit all have the best chance of landing Wembanyama — 14% apiece, or about 7-1. The odds decrease a bit as one goes down the line of the other lottery hopefuls: Charlotte (12.5%), Portland (10.5%), Orlando (9%), Indiana (6.8%), Washington (6.7%), Utah (4.5%), Dallas (3%), Chicago (1.8%), Oklahoma City (1.7%), Toronto (1%) and New Orleans (0.5%).
---> NBA Draft Lottery 2023: Team odds, what time, TV and streaming info
We don’t know which way the balls will bounce tonight -- and any of the top three picks would be a big boost for the Pistons -- but landing Wemby would change the Detroit sports market as we know it.
So cross your fingers, toes and eyes.