The Eastern Conference just got tougher.
The Pistons’ horrendous season panned out in the end when they won the NBA draft lottery Tuesday night. That will give Detroit the rights to the presumptive No. 1-overall pick in Cade Cunningham, who can play point guard or wing at 6-foot-8 and will jump-start their rebuild. The Pistons fielded promising rookies Saddiq Bey and Killian Hayes this season to go along with star Jerami Grant.
The Pistons, Rockets and Magic had the best odds at 14 percent. Sure enough, the Rockets will pick second, putting them in position for one of the Big 5 — Cunningham, Jalen Suggs, Jalen Green, Jonathon Kuminga and Evan Mobley.
Cleveland will pick third, Toronto fourth and Orlando fifth. All those teams are in position for one of the elite group.
With the Warriors getting two lottery picks, figure their 14th pick is up for grabs, as the Knicks look to move up from Nos. 19 and 21.
1. Detroit Pistons
Cade Cunningham
Oklahoma State (G/F, 6-8, 220 pounds)
Is he a point guard? Is he a small forward? He’s everything and will look good next to point guard Hayes as a do-everything three-level scorer. Cunningham can shoot the 3, pass, drive and defend. The Pistons may make a leap in the East.
2. Houston Rockets
Jalen Green
G-League Ignite (SG, 6-6, 178)
The team robbed of all its star power will go with the player with the highest upside. With his quickness and leaping ability off the charts, the high-scoring wing is a certified top-three pick but didn’t dazzle as expected in the G-League bubble. He’s more of a project than predicted months ago but had a strong bubble finish.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers
Evan Mobley
USC (C, 7-0, 215)
The Cavaliers have plenty of point guards, so they’ll pass on Jalen Suggs. Mobley is a big-time, shot-blocking, versatile defender with 3-point potential, drawing comparisons to Chris Bosh. Lone knock is he’s got no post-up game.
4. Toronto Raptors
Jalen Suggs
Gonzaga (PG, 6-4, 205)
Though they have Fred VanVleet, Kyle Lowry is departing. Suggs is too good to pass up here, and VanVleet and Suggs could form a tandem. Suggs is a playmaking, smart point guard who excels in transition and a dogged competitor for the Gonzaga superpower that made the NCAA final.
5. Orlando Magic
Jonathan Kuminga
G-League Ignite (SF, 6-8, 220)
Orlando is in full-blown rebuild — again — and just taking the player with the highest upside. This big wing with a 7-foot wingspan can defend multiple positions and is explosive with ability to create his own shot. Scouts liked him at the G-League bubble — though few fans have ever seen a player who has may have the second-highest upside in the entire draft.
6. Oklahoma City Thunder
Scottie Barnes
Florida State (F, 6-9, 227)
Can see the Thunder swapping with Golden State for a club who covets this terrific, versatile defender with a 7-2 swingspan. Oklahoma City is trying to set the record for most first-rounders. Barnes is ball-mover with a high basketball IQ but was disappointing with his 3-ball (27.5 percent).
7. Golden State Warriors (via Timberwolves)
Keon Johnson
Tennessee (G/F, 6-5, 186)
The Warriors are trying to win now, and Johnson can help the defense. That’s his strong suit, and he’s arguably the best athlete in the draft. But the highflyer isn’t much of a deep threat with a potential role-playing future.
8. Orlando Magic (via Bulls)
Alperen Sengun
Turkey (PF, 6-10, 240)
With Markelle Fultz and Cole Anthony on the roster, adding a point guard such as Davion Mitchell doesn’t make sense, so why not roll the dice on the cream of the international crop. A poor man’s Kristaps Porzingis, he turns 19 in July and flies under the radar despite being MVP of the Turkish league. His U.S. comp is Kevin Love.
9. Sacramento Kings
Davion Mitchell
Baylor (PG, 6-2, 202)
A team craving the Baylor guard may lead the Kings to trade this pick. Mitchell doesn’t back down from anything, as he helped lead Baylor to the NCAA title with grit, defense and can hit the 3 (44.7 percent). Concern is a lack of size.
10. New Orleans Pelicans
Franz Wagner
Michigan (SF, 6-9, 200)
The Pelicans can use more 3-point shooting to surround Zion Williamson. Brother of Mo Wagner, Franz could be a solid 3-and-D with just a slight improvement to his good-looking shot from behind the arc.
11. Charlotte Hornets
Moses Moody
Arkansas (SG, 6-6, 211)
Potential 3-and-D Danny Green-type guy with a 6-11 wingspan for a club that needs more defenders.
12. San Antonio Spurs
Corey Kispert
Gonzaga (SF, 6-7, 224)
Feels like a Gregg Popovich fit, looking for winners. In league all about shooting, Kispert is a 3-point marksman, hitting 44 percent for the NCAA finalist.
13. Indiana Pacers
James Bouknight
UConn (G, 6-4,190)
Would be a boon if Knicks can trade up here to the late lottery and snare the Brooklynite, who is a walking bucket. They need backcourt scoring, and he’s a shotmaker with potential to improve from 3.
14. Golden State Warriors
Jalen Johnson
Duke (SF, 6-9 220)
Imagine the Warriors will shop this pick. If not, they’ll grab the best player available in Johnson, who didn’t improve his stock in college with a mediocre freshman year then quitting before season’s end. But he’s highly skilled — an elite transition player, good passer and has upside.
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