The Pistons never had their own lotto signings to help them out of the team before winning a playoff series.
Lindsey Hunt was drafted by Detroit in 1993 and received a draft pick from the Heat in the previous year's trade, and he was selected with the 10th pick in 1993, playing a key role as a substitute in the Pistons' 2004 championship battle and remaining a rotational substitute in the Eastern Conference Finals for the next four games. However, that was Hunter's second job in Detroit.
Dacomilisic, the Pistons' infamous late 2003 2-pick pick (a draft pick acquired in a trade with the Grizzlies a few years ago), played garbage time in the 2004 and 2005 playoffs.
With the 9th pick in 2001, Rodney White played three minutes in detroit's first-round victory over the Raptors.
Otherwise, the Pistons' lotto show hasn't been played at all in series wins.
In other words: The Pistons didn't start using Detroit Lotto picks after the first round. All the other teams got their first post-playoff start from their lotto shows:
This should change with the first pick, with Cadcanningen.
Detroit's belated lotto luck could change the franchise that is already in trouble.
Cunningham has the size and technology to thrive in the NBA. Despite his unsatisfactory athleticism and lingering ankle injuries, Cunningham has caused a stir.
The Pistons allowed Cunningham to succeed early by signing Keli olnick (three years, $37,195,122, $28 million guaranteed). For a 30-year-old who doesn't fit detroit's schedule, that's a big expense. But the big man will provide room for his young teammates to grow — and may win sooner than expected.
To open up Olynyk's block space, the Pistons dropped 20 points on a contract with Merson Prinley to the Hornets on a second round to unload. Plumlee exceeded expectations last season (showing how misguided his deal was, as it still needs a sweetener to dump). But 20-year-old Isaiah Stewart is poised to be the center of Detroit's interior.
Beyond Cunningham, with last year, the Pistons' offseason was mostly about reservations. Jerami Grant, Sadiq Bay and Stewart return to the core, and of course now include Cunningham.
Detroit also re-signed Hamidu Diallo (two years, $10.4 million, with team options), Cory Joseph ($1+11,065 million), Frank Jackson (two years, $6.15 million with team options), Lee Shaben (three years, minimum team options) and Rodney McGrud (minimum one year). That's a good price for Diallo, showing the value of the deal the 23-year-old earned matching rights last season.
To make Pistons fans less satisfied with the team, Detroit signed Trey Lyles (two years, $5.125 million, with team option). Lyles was previously known as one of the five worst cities in the NBA.
No. 42 pick Isaiah Liver, No. 52 draft pick Luka Garza and No. 57 draft pick Balsa Koprivitsa are among other key additions.
In de Andrew Jordan Trade, which was mostly to secure future second-round picks in exchange for a cap, the Pistons took action by Seku Dumbua, the last player general manager Troy Weaver just inherited last year. Weaver so quickly put a complete stamp on the team.
Of course, landing first in line helps establish a new identity.
The Pistons haven't won a playoff in 12 years. Related to this, it has been much longer since they qualified for Darko in the Lotto district in 2003. In fact, that was the only time they've risen in the lottery.
Detroit has been luckier in this offseason than in this year's draw. But that's enough.
Offseason results: B