NBA draft lottery odds 2024: Detroit Pistons guaranteed another top 5 pick
The Detroit Pistons delivered one final brutal performance Sunday afternoon in a season full of them — the worst in franchise history, in fact.
The Pistons' backups were pulverized by the San Antonio Spurs backups, 123-95, at Frost Bank Center to finish the season a pitiful 14-68. The Pistons secured the NBA's worst record for the second consecutive season, after going 17-65 a year ago.
The loss guaranteed the Pistons will secure another top-five pick in the NBA draft lottery May 12, after they finished one win behind second-worst Washington (15-67). The Pistons have picked in the top five in three consecutive drafts, taking Cade Cunningham No. 1 in 2021, Jaden Ivey No. 5 in 2022 and Ausar Thompson No. 5 in 2023.
The league's bottom-three teams each have a 14% chance to win the No. 1 pick in the June 26-27 draft, as well as even odds for pick Nos. 2-4.
ANALYSIS: Pistons front office changes likely after worst season in franchise history
The Pistons fell to the No. 5 spot in last year's lottery, when even three extra draws could not save them from falling as far as they possibly could.
Here are the Pistons' odds to finish at each pick:
Detroit Pistons NBA draft lottery 2024 odds for each pick
No. 1: 14%
No. 2: 13.4%
No. 3: 12.7%
No. 4: 12%
No. 5: 47.9%
NBA draft lottery 2024 order
The lottery on May 12 in Chicago will consist of the 14 teams to miss the playoffs, with Nos. 11-14 being filled by the four play-in tournament losers.
Here's a look at the top nine spots that are locked in (full order at Tankathon.com):
1. Detroit Pistons (14-68)
2. Washington Wizards (15-67)
3. Charlotte Hornets (21-61)
3. Portland Trail Blazers (21-61)
5. San Antonio Spurs (22-60)
6. Toronto Raptors (25-57)
7. Memphis Grizzlies (27-55)
8. Utah Jazz (31-51)
9. Houston Rockets (via Brooklyn Nets, 32-50)
Top prospects in NBA draft 2024
This year's draft does not have a superstar prospect and also has no clear order for how the players are rated.
A look at six of the top prospects:
C Alex Sarr (NBL, Australia)
F Zaccharie Risacher (LNB Pro A, France)
SG Reed Shepard (Kentucky freshman)
PG Nikola Topić (Adriatic League, Southeast Europe)
PG Rob Dillingham (Kentucky freshman)
F Matas Buzelis (G League Ignite)
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons guaranteed to pick top 5 in NBA draft lottery 2024
