NBA Draft: Ranking the top 3 winners of the 2022 NBA Draft

Jun 23, 2022; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Jaden Ivey (Purdue) shakes hands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number five overall pick by the Detroit Pistons in the first round of the 2022 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Ranking the top 3 winners of the 2022 NBA Draft: 2. Detroit Pistons

After selecting Cade Cunningham with the top overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, general manager Troy Weaver and the Pistons’ front office struck gold for a consecutive year. In the 2022 NBA Draft, Detroit added Purdue guard Jaden Ivey and Memphis center Jalen Duren to this up-and-coming team.

Ivey was selected fifth-overall, and Duren was acquired through a multi-team trade with the 13th pick. In addition, the Pistons drafted Gabriele Procida with the 36th pick, who will likely be stashed so Procida can develop more overseas before making the jump to the NBA.

Pairing Ivey, an explosive 20-year-old guard with elite athleticism and attack-minded scoring ability, with Cunningham will form one of the best young duos in the league for the next couple of years and beyond.

Duren, an athletic freak with soaring bounce and length, should become a key asset that will complement Ivey and Cunningham on both ends of the floor as a rim protector, roller, screener, and physical rebounder.

The Detroit Pistons are constructing a promising young core headlined by Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Saddiq Bey, Jalen Duren, and Isaiah Stewart while building a desirable culture in Motor City.

They will also have attractive opportunities in free agency such as pursuing restricted free agents Deandre Ayton or Miles Bridges with the most cap space this summer. Evidently, the future is real bright in Detroit.

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