With the 2019-2020 NBA season fast approaching, Our First Draft is providing team previews for all 30 NBA teams. These are intended to inform the reader about important roster changes for all teams, as well as summarizing the outlook of the team ahead. This includes the Vegas Over/Under line, OFD’s recommendation on which side to take, as well as a projected record for the team.
Team: Detroit Pistons
Conference: Eastern
Wins O/U: 37.5 (Over -110, Under -110)
Last Year’s Record: 41-41
Projected Roster (Projected Starters marked with asterisks): J. Bone, B. Brown*, S. Doumboya, A. Drummond*, L. Galloway, B. Griffin*, R. Jackson*, L. Kennard*, T. Maker, M. Morris, S. Mykhailiuk, D. Rose, T. Snell, K. Thomas
Key Offseason Moves: Signed D. Rose, Lost I. Smith, Traded for T. Snell, Signed M. Morris, Lost W. Ellington, Lost G. Robinson III, Drafted S. Doumboya
Overall Summary: This Detroit team returns many of the same players from last year’s 8 seed in the East. Blake Griffin had a wonderful year, but struggled with injuries towards the end of the season and especially in the first-round drubbing of the Pistons by the Bucks. Derrick Rose, Markieff Morris, and Tony Snell should approximate what Ish Smith, Wayne Ellington, and Glenn Robinson III brought to the team. While the value of drafting Sekou Doumboya outside the lottery is excellent, the young Guinean needs to develop before he can become an impact player in Detroit. The injuries or lack thereof suffered by Griffin this year will define whether the Pistons return to the playoffs or sink into the lottery.
Verdict: It’s tough to know how many games Griffin will miss, but assuming that he plays at least 60, I suggest taking the over. I don’t really understand why a substantially similar team in a weaker conference has an over/under line of three and a half wins less than last year. This isn’t a particular endorsement of the Pistons, as I expect them to limp to a 39-43 record.
