New-Look Detroit Pistons Still Expected To Be At NBA’s Bottom In 2021

The Detroit Pistons, once a struggling franchise for over ten years, went through a significant transformation this offseason.

Newly appointed general manager Troy Weaver took on the role of a stylist, aiming to revive the former glory of the franchise by giving it a retro makeover reminiscent of the iconic days of Detroit basketball.

It is highly likely that even the most hopeful Pistons fan would acknowledge the need for additional patience, as the sports community in a weary town, tired of consecutive losing seasons, is running out of it.

An online launch is anticipated in mid-January, providing some relief in terms of entertainment through legal sports betting. Additionally, sports betting is available at 19 Michigan casinos, excluding the Detroit ones which will remain closed until at least next week.

Unfortunately, online betting will not be available for Wednesday’s season opener in Minnesota. However, there will be ample opportunities to place bets on Detroit basketball as the highly anticipated rebuilding process unfolds.

Detroit Pistons futures odds

The odds provided below were last updated at 2:30 p.m. ET on December 17.

Detroit Pistons Futures	DraftKings	FanDuel	BetMGM	William Hill	PointsBet
NBA Championship	+50000	+24000	+50000	+40000	+40000
Eastern Conference title	+25000	+10000	+25000	+15000	+15000
Total Wins	32.5%*	23.5	23.5	23	23.5

Please note that DraftKings sets win percentage totals instead of a specific total number of wins.

Pistons glory days seem like a distant memory

The Pistons, although unfamiliar to younger fans, have a remarkable history as one of the league’s most accomplished non-coastal franchises.

The team experienced two championship eras, beginning with the dominant Bad Boys who claimed consecutive championships. However, their reign was eventually halted in 1991 when Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls emerged victorious.

The Going to Work-era Pistons, renowned for their lack of a superstar or Hall of Fame players, achieved remarkable success by winning the 2004 championship and making it to six consecutive conference finals during their reign.

Those days have long since passed.

Since 2008, Detroit has been unable to secure a win in any playoff game, resulting in a current 14-game playoff losing streak. This unfortunate record stands as the longest in the NBA by a significant margin.

One of the most highly respected front offices in the league, Oklahoma City, brought Weaver to Detroit this offseason.

Troy Weaver drastically re-made roster in short order

Under the guidance of coach Dwane Casey, the Pistons fell significantly short of qualifying for the league’s Orlando bubble last season, finishing with a record of 20-46.

However, the expectations for significant changes this offseason were relatively low.

It was believed that Detroit would incorporate the No. 7 pick into its existing young core comprising of Bruce Brown, Sekou Doumbouya, and Luke Kennard.

This offseason, the team has the opportunity to potentially trade Derrick Rose, allow star Blake Griffin’s contract to expire, and strategically make smaller moves. The biggest decision they face is whether to pursue the free agency of Christian Wood.

Weaver had other ideas.

The inexperienced GM made significant changes to the team’s roster, trading away Brown and Kennard in order to acquire additional draft picks. They also focused on bringing in players who embody the traditional Pistons style, while also executing a sign and trade deal to unload Wood.

Surprisingly enough, Weaver utilized cap space to secure the signings of Jerami Grant and Mason Plumlee from Denver, with a total worth of $85 million spanning across three seasons.

It was both shocking and daring.

Only time will reveal if it was a wise decision.

Oddsmakers believe Pistons will still be in the NBA Draft lottery

The actions taken by Weaver cannot be accurately evaluated based solely on this season. However, unlike numerous contemporary front-office executives who delay significant decisions, one must appreciate Weaver’s willingness to promptly risk his reputation.

Nevertheless, it is highly likely that the Pistons will remain a lottery team, with a higher probability of securing the first pick in the upcoming NBA Draft rather than qualifying for the playoffs in 2021.

Nevertheless, the introduction of an expanded playoff format offers a ray of hope for fans yearning for consistently competitive basketball throughout the season. Presently, the play-in tournament now encompasses the seventh to tenth ranked teams in both conferences, thereby broadening the range of participants.

According to FanDuel Sportsbook, the Pistons are given +360 odds for qualifying in the play-in tournament.

According to DraftKings Sportsbook, the Pistons have a +800 probability of securing a spot in the playoffs (following the play-in tournament), while the odds of them missing the field are significantly higher at -1430.

Any chance for a Cinderella Pistons’ run? It’s… a longshot

There is a good reason why the Pistons are considered one of the least likely teams to win the league’s major prizes.

In order to achieve positive results in terms of wins and losses, it is essential that Rose and Griffin maintain good health. Additionally, it is crucial for role players such as Grant and Plumlee to greatly elevate their performance, while rookies like Killian Hayes must immediately demonstrate their exceptional skills.

According to PointsBet Sportsbook, the Pistons, along with New York and Charlotte, have odds of +40000 to win the NBA title, which are the third-longest on the board. Cleveland and Oklahoma City are tied for the longest odds at +50000.

The title odds at William Hill Sportsbook stand at +40000, which are also the same for winning the Eastern Conference. This places them in a tie for the longest odds alongside Cleveland, New York, and Charlotte, all at +15000.

Win totals: What will the Detroit Pistons’ record look like?

DraftKings has established over/under winning percentages for each NBA team during the regular season, with the Pistons’ set at 32.5%. The bet will be evaluated only if a minimum of 60 games are played, excluding the play-in games.

If Detroit completes all 72 games scheduled for this season, achieving a record of 23-49 would fall below expectations, whereas a record of 24-48 would meet or exceed expectations.

For the over/under wins bet on FanDuel, a minimum of 70 games must be played for the bet to be evaluated. Detroit’s win total is established at 23.5.

The over/unders of only Cleveland (22.5), New York (21.5), and Oklahoma City (20.5) are lower.

This season, Pistons fans will undoubtedly be closely following some of the highly anticipated top draft prospects for next year, such as Cade Cunningham from Oklahoma State, Jalen Suggs from Gonzaga, and Evan Mobley from USC.

At present, the tipoff is drawing near, indicating the commencement of yet another Detroit Pistons season that can be regarded as a work-in-progress. It would be wise for us to get comfortable and prepare ourselves accordingly.