Daily Knicks
Fansided

Knicks: Where does New York rank in the Eastern Conference?

By Nolan Eritano

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - NOVEMBER 16: Head coach Tom Thibodeau of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts during the third quarter of the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Target Center on November 16, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Minnesota Timberwolves are debuting their City Jerseys honoring the late artist Prince. The Timberwolves defeated the Trail Blazers 112-96. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - NOVEMBER 16: Head coach Tom Thibodeau of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts during the third quarter of the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Target Center on November 16, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Minnesota Timberwolves are debuting their City Jerseys honoring the late artist Prince. The Timberwolves defeated the Trail Blazers 112-96. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 7
Next
Knicks
Dec 19, 2020; Washington, DC, USA; Derrick Rose #25 of the Detroit Pistons passes the ball in front of Davis Bertans #42 of the Washington Wizards in the first half during a preseason game at Capital One Arena on December 19, 2020 in Washington, DC. Mandatory Credit: Rob Carr/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports /

13. Detroit Pistons

2019-2020 Record: (20-46)
Preseason Record: (2-2)

The Detroit Pistons are exactly where every NBA team doesn’t want to be – in a state of limbo. They are stuck paying a 31-year-old Blake Griffin being paid $36,595,996 this year and $38,957,028 for the following season. While Griffin is a former All-Star and household name, the latter half of his career has been riddled with injuries and Detroit hasn’t been able to surround him with much of a supporting cast.

In fact, the talent around a deteriorating Blake Griffin is so bad, that FiveThirtyEight projects that Detroit will finish the 2020-21 season with a league-worst 18-54 record, with only a 1% chance of making the playoffs. In many ways, this team reminds me of the Knicks trying to build around an aging Carmelo Anthony.

With that being said, Detroit brings back Derrick Rose at point guard who has managed to somewhat revitalize his career. They also drafted French point guard Killian Haynes 7th overall along with three other draft picks. They brought in Jerami Grant in free agency who should be able to provide quality minutes to the line-up, and is still only 25 years of age.

Most importantly, it looks like Detroit is focusing on rebuilding while trying to get the most out of the veterans they currently have on their roster. Besides drafting Hayes 7th overall, they were able to select Isaiah Stewart at 16, and pulled a 3-team trade to the Clippers sending out Luke Kennard for the Clippers 19th overall, which they used to snag Saddiq Bey who fell to 19th after being by many to be a borderline lottery pick and Rodney McGruder.

While drafting a slew of young players should help them down the road, and players like Killian Hayes should make an immediate impact, I don’t see many of these moves improving Detroit this season, and for that reason I agree with FiveThirtyEight and believe that Detroit will be the worst team in the east this season.

Home/Knicks News