Last-minute check: What NBA mock drafts are saying about Detroit Pistons and fifth pick

Outside of Victory Wembanyama landing with the San Antonio Spurs at No. 1, you won’t find a lot of parity in the NBA mock draft this year littered across the internet.

The Detroit Pistons are, of course, selecting No. 5 after finishing with the worst record in the NBA during the 2022-23 season but falling the maximum amount of spots in the NBA draft lottery. That drop essentially took all potential certainty out of the draft night for the Pistons, but it did do one thing.

It made mock drafts that much more fun to track.

Based on the stature of the top three players — Wembanyama, Scoot Henderson and Brandon Miller — you can pretty much eliminate those names from potentially landing with the Pistons. But beyond that, the experts seem to think pretty much anything can happen.

OUR FINAL MOCK DRAFT: A new name at No. 5 emerges for Pistons

There’s no shortage of NBA mock drafts available to scroll through these days, so it can sometimes be difficult to keep track of just how things stand.

But that’s what we’re here for. We read through 25 mock drafts and compiled a list of who people think the Pistons will land.

Considering how unanimous the top three selections are, there is shockingly little consensus for whom the Pistons will select just two picks later.

Of the 25 mock drafts we read, Villanova’s Cam Whitmore slightly edged out Overtime Elite’s Ausar Thompson, with Whitmore getting mocked to the Pistons nine times and Thompson seven. Houston’s Jarace Walker was also a popular choice, going to the Pistons in five mock drafts we found.

Ausar’s twin brother, Amen, also got mocked to the Pistons twice, and Kansas’ Gradey Dick and UCF’s Taylor Hendricks also picked up votes.

Free Press Pistons beat writer Omari Sankofa II has the team taking Ausar Thompson, but he said he could definitely see the Pistons landing on Whitmore as well, who he had in his last mock draft.

One thing is for sure; the Pistons have done a good job of keeping people guessing.