Ausar Thompson, fans in disbelief as Detroit Pistons fall to No. 5 pick again in NBA draft

The Detroit Pistons are NBA draft lottery losers after a season of historic shortcomings — again.

In Sunday's NBA draft lottery, the Pistons fell the maximum slots possible in the current system. The Pistons had the best odds for the No. 1 overall pick, 14%, after finishing 14-68, the worst record in franchise history, in 2023-24.

It is the second year in a row the Pistons have slid from the No. 1 spot to No. 5. Last year, the Pistons lost out on the lottery and a chance to select Victor Wembanyama, ending up with Ausar Thompson at five instead.

The Pistons, Charlotte Hornets and Portland Trail Blazers all fell out of the top four, getting leapfrogged by the San Antonio Spurs at No. 4, the Houston Rockets at No. 3 and the Atlanta Hawks at No. 1. The Washington Wizards, who had the second-worst record (and 14% odds for No. 1) remained at No. 2.

Detroit and their incoming president of basketball operations — who has yet to be hired — will have its work cut out after falling to No. 5. Detroit finished with the worst record in the NBA for the second straight year and reached the low point in franchise history despite having a collection of young talent led by former No. 1 overall pick Cade Cunningham.

All of that for the fifth pick. Woof. Thompson's reaction as the Pistons' representative on the stage in Chicago says it all.

The basketball gods have yet to relent on the Pistons, and fans are resigned to the misery while the rest of the NBA world points and laughs like Nelson Muntz in "The Simpsons."

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons' 'brutal luck' continues with ANOTHER NBA draft lottery slide