NEWSLETTER
Detroit Pistons 2024 NBA Mock Draft – The NBA is changing it up this year with a revamped draft format for the 2024 season. This year’s 78th annual draft will be spread over two nights, a first since the league standardized the draft to two rounds in the late 1980s. Previously held in a 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.
The second round will also see an extended time allotment between picks, with a shift from two minutes to four. Continuing a trend from the past two years, the draft will feature 58 picks instead of the usual 60 due to tampering penalties levied against the Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix Suns.
It’s hard to classify the 2023-2024 Detroit Pistons season as anything other than a disappointment, and there are questions at the top of the organization moving forward. They have an intriguing group of young players, but head coach Monty Williams’s inconsistent rotations are a cause for concern as the young core develops.
If Detroit can land a scoring wing, someone who can space the court and knock down shots from the perimeter, they’ll have an enticing five-man core to build around heading into next year, with high-upside talent sitting at the top of the 2025 draft class.
Rarely does a fanbase want to hear that the ideal goal for the upcoming season is to lose a lot of games again, but if they can somehow pull that off while having Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Ausar Thompson, and Jalen Duren all take a step forward, that’s a win-win for the franchise. The downside of that is the clock is ticking on Cade Cunningham’s contract, and if he doesn’t see a path to winning in Detroit, it’s unlikely that he’ll want to return. The Pistons are walking a tightrope right now, and it’ll be fascinating to see how it plays out over the next two seasons.
Detroit Pistons 2024 NBA Mock Draft – Pick No. 5
Matas Buzelis – G League Ignite
Position: SF
Size: 6’10”, 200 lbs
Age/Year: 19
Nationality: American/Lithuanian
Pro Comparison (per The Ringer): Lamar Odom
No one would be surprised if Matas Buzelis turned out to be the top player in this year’s underwhelming 2024 class. He’ll need to add muscle to his long and lean frame, but he’s been considered one of the best prospects in this year’s class for quite a while and comes from a strong basketball family, with my mom and dad playing professionally in Lithuania.
Buzelis approaches the game with a keen awareness of offensive strategies, utilizing his high basketball IQ and exceptional passing skills to his advantage. With a smooth shooting form, he demonstrates the potential to become a top-tier shooter, although his three-point consistency dipped slightly during the G League season, indicating the need for further refinement at the NBA level.
While he may not possess elite athleticism, Buzelis compensates with relentless defensive hustle and an impressive ability to thrive in transition. He constantly pushes the tempo and makes quick, intelligent decisions on the court. In order 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, the 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
*The New Orleans Pelicans have the option to take the Los Angeles Lakers pick at No. 17 overall or defer it to 2025. They have until June 1st to decide.
