2024 NBA Mock Draft: Detroit Pistons – The NBA is shaking things up this year with a new draft format for the 2024 season. The 78th annual draft will be spread over two nights, marking the first time since the league standardized the draft to two rounds in the late 1980s. Instead of the previous single-night spectacle, the draft will now take place on June 26th at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center for the first round, followed by the second round on June 27th at ESPN’s Seaport District Studios in Manhattan.
In the second round, there will be an extended time allotment betwee♍n picks, increasing from two minutes to four. Similar to th▨e past two years, the draft will comprise 58 picks instead of the usual 60 as a result of tampering penalties imposed on the Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix Suns.
2024 NBA Mock Draft: Detroit Pistons
The 2023-2024 season for the Detroit Pistons was disappointing, raising questions about the leadership at the top of the organization. The team has a promising group of♒ young players, but the inconsistent rotations by head coach Monty Williams are a cause for c𒐪oncern as the young core develops.
If Detroit can꧅ acquire a scoring wing player who can space the court and make shots from the perimeter, they will have a strong core to build around for next year, especially with the high-upside talent available in the 2025 draft class.
While it’s not ideal for a fanbase to hope for a lot of losses in the upcoming season, if the team can achieve that while having Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Ausar Thompson, and Jalen Duren all make progress, it would be a win for the franchise. However, the risk is that time is running out on Cade Cunningham’s contract, and if he doesn’t see a path to winning in Detroit, he’s unlikely to want to stay. The Pistons are in a delicate situation, and it will be interesting to see how it unfolds over the next two seasons.
2024 NBA Mock Draft: Detroit Pistons – Pick No. 5
Matas Buzelis – G League Ignite
Position: SF
Size: 6’10”, 200 lbs
Age/Year: 19
Nationality: American/Lithuanian
Pro Comparison (per ): Lamar Odom
It wouldn’t be surprising if Matas Buzelis emerged as the top player in the 2024 class. He needs to bulk up his long and lean frame, but he’s been recognized as one of the best prospects for some time. Coming from a strong basketball background with both parents playing professionally in Lithuania, Buzelis has a solid foundation.
Buzelis approaches the game with a strong understanding of offensive strategies, using his high basketball IQ and exceptional passing skills to his advantage. While he has a smooth shooting form and the potential to become a top-tier shooter, his three-point consistency dipped slightly during the G Leag🎃ue season, indicating the need for further refinement at the NBA level.
Despite not possessing elite athleticism, Buzelis compensates with relentless defensive hustle and an impressive ability to thrive in transition. He consistently pushes the tempo and makes quick, intelligent decisions on the court. To expand his skill set beyond being a floor-spacing threat, Buzelis must work on refining his ball-handling and developing the capacity to finish through contact using both hands around the rim. Nonetheless, theꦉ groundwork for him to become a significant offensive threat is undeniably in place.
2024 NBA draft order: First Round
1. Atlanta Hawks
2. Washington Wizards
3. Houston Rockets (via BKN)
4. San Antonio Spurs
5. Detroit Pistons
6. Charlotte Hornets
7. Portland Trail Blazers
8. San Antonio Spurs (via TOR)
9. Memphis Grizzlies
10. Utah Jazz
11. Chicago Bulls
12. Oklahoma City Thunder
13. Sacramento Kings
14. Portland Trail Blazers (via GS)
15. Miami Heat
16. Philadelphia 76ers
17. Los Angeles Lakers
18. Orlando Magic
19. Toronto Raptors (via IND)
20. Cleveland Cavaliers
21. New Orleans Pelicans (via MIL)
22. Phoenix Suns
23. Milwaukee Bucks (via NO)
24. New York Knicks (via DAL)
25. New York Knicks
26. Washington Wizards (via LAC)
27. Minnesota Timberwolves
28. Denver Nuggets
29. Utah Jazz (via OKC)
30. Boston Celtics
