Kyle Singler didn't turn out to be a lucky charm for the Detroit Pistons.
Despite having an 83.4 percent chance of keeping their pick or moving up in the draft lottery, Singler could only look on helplessly as the Cleveland Cavaliers jumped from No. 9 to No. 1.
That knocked the Pistons from the eighth pick to No. 9, meaning that Detroit has to ship the pick to the Charlotte Hornets as part of the trade that brought Corey Maggette in exchange for Ben Gordon.
Maggette only played 18 games for the Pistons, averaging 5.3 points, but the choice not to use the amnesty clause on Gordon has now cost the franchise a lottery pick in one of the deepest drafts in recent memory.
"Tonight's results are disappointing, but not disastrous," new team president/coach Stan Van Gundy said in a statement. "We knew we would lose our pick this year or next. We have the 38th pick and we will continue our evaluation process and preparation for the upcoming draft."
Van Gundy also pointed out that the Pistons have other ways to rebuild the team.
"We'll also explore other opportunities to use the draft to improve our team, whether that's moving up, moving down or staying," he said. "We still have many assets and tools at our disposal to upgrade our roster, including the upcoming free agency period in July."
