The Detroit Pistons secured the franchise-changing ping pong ball in Tuesday’s NBA draft lottery.
The Pistons will pick No. 1 in the draft — slated for July 29 — and Oklahoma State guard Cade Cunningham is expected to be the clear-cut favorite. The 6-8 do-everything guard was a first team USA TODAY Sports All-American in his breakout freshman season with the Cowboys in 2020-21.
The Houston Rockets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Toronto Raptors and Orlando Magic round out the top five. NBA deputy commissioner and chief operating officer Mark Tatum announced the lottery results with representatives of the 14 teams joining virtually.
The Pistons’ last draft pick this high came in 2003, when they selected Darko