Detroit Pistons Will Pick 5th In The 2024 NBA Draft

The NBA Draft Lottery is officially in the books and the Detroit Pistons will pick 5th in the 2024 NBA Draft. At the end of the season, I told you about how disappointing this season was for the Detroit Pistons. Read more about that here.

Last offseason the team hired Monty Williams, and at the time made him the highest paid coach in NBA history. When a team makes that move, they don’t expect to have the worst record in the league, but that’s exactly what happened.

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The 2024 NBA Draft is considered one of the worst draft since 2013 when Anthony Bennett went number one overall to Cleveland. While that’s the case, you always want to be in the position to take your guy. With a team this bad, you just want to get talent and figure out how it fits later.

I took a peek at a couple mock drafts, and each one had a different person in the #5 spot. USA Today’s Rookie Wire has the team taking 6’5” Baylor forward, Ja’Kobe Walter. The Ringer has Rob Dillingham slotted at #5. Finally, Bleacher Reportt has Nikola Topic as their #5 pick.

We now know that the Detroit Pistons will pick 5th in the 2024 NBA Draft. With these mock drafts, there is a lot of overlap. When you have the worst record in the league though, you just have to stockpile talent and figure out the fit after.

It’s official, the Detroit Pistons will pick 5th in the 2024 NBA Draft, what would you like for them to do with their pick?

For the first time the NBA Draft will be two days, with the first round taking place on June 26, 2024 from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Round two will happen on June 27, 2024 at ESPN’s Seaport District Studios in New York. You can watch live on ABC, ESPN and the ESPN App.

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The Detroit Lions' 2024 NFL Draft class is here. So, how did we do? We should be proud, kids. In my opinion, this was a total success. Let's grade the Detroit Lions' picks in this year's draft.

Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell did a lot of trading up this year, but that's okay, because looking at the upcoming draft years, the Lions still have a decent amount of early picks. This year, the team had one first-round pick, which was pick 29 in the first round. Although the draft is always important, thankfully, Detroit has been taking on quite a few free agents and resigning players, so the needs weren't as immediate. We needed a good cornerback, and we got two. That, to me, was the most important piece of the puzzle for the Detroit Lions in the draft.

It's worth noting that this year's NFL Draft class was very different for the Detroit Lions than it has been in previous years. This was the first time Holmes and Campbell didn't have top picks, because the Lions did so well last season. They're good and making solid picks when they get to look at the top draft players. But, how would Holmes and Campbell do when they are looking at draft picks lower on the tally? I have to say that I wasn't worried. These guys have earned my trust. Holmes obviously knows what he's doing when it comes to scouting, and it's part of what makes him, in my opinion, the best GM in the league right now.

Case in point: In 2023, the Detroit Lions had two first-round picks. They went with Jahmyr Gibbs and Jack Campbell. The Gibbs pick was a controversial one. So many analysts and fans thought it was a throwaway pick. But, if you watched the Lions last season, then you know how the story ended. Gibbs had a fantastic season and was a huge part of the success of the team's offensive line. I questioned the Gibbs picks last year and learned my lesson. Never question Holmes. He knows what he's doing.

Now, let's get into the 2024 Detroit Lions NFL draft class. Read on for an analysis of each player, including underrated picks. Also, listen to my interview with Lions quarterback Jared Goff below. I interviewed him at a charity event he held with Jared Jewelry during the NFL Draft week. Reach out to me, too, with your thoughts on the picks.

It's pretty unanimous that this was a great pick for the Lions. It's my favorite pick of the draft. I said going into the draft that we absolutely needed a good cornerback, and a lot of others said the same thing. The Lions gave up a third-round pick to get the 24 pick, going from 29, but it was worth it. Terrion Arnold is solid and will hit the ground running.

Two cornerbacks as the first two picks might seem a bit much, but I think it's a smart move. Ennis Rakestraw has dealt with some injuries, or else he would have been picked higher. If he can get and stay healthy, he'll be a huge asset.

We traded up to get offensive tackle Giovanni Manu, and that was a bit of a head-scratcher for me. But, I have faith in Holmes and think Manu can help the team. He hasn't gone up against the toughest teams at the University of British Columbia, so that's a bit of a concern, but he certainly has some great skills.

This guy is very versatile. Sione Vaki played safety for most of his time in college, but the Lions might use him as a running back. There's nothing wrong with being a jack of all trades.

The Mekhi Wingo pick has been getting raves from across the board. During draft analysis, ESPN analyst Matt Miller said he ranked Wingo as his 94th player in the class and could not believe he was picked way down at 189. That makes him a steal. "Find me a defensive tackle that is more fun to watch in this year's draft class than Mekhi Wingo," Miller said. Dane Brugler of The Athletic is also a fan. One of my friends who follows the draft closely also sings Winger's praises. Sounds like a real solid pick.

This was another steal. I love this pick. The Lions need guard help, and although they waited until the end to fulfill that need, they got a solid guard in Christian Mahogany. He could have easily gone in the top 150, in my opinion.