Who would have thought the Detroit Pistons would turn into contenders first than the Charlotte Hornets? For six straight seasons, Charlotte finished with a better record than the Pistons, but things have changed as the latter is heading to the playoffs.
Detroit has already secured at least sixth place in the Eastern Conference this season, with the No. 5 seed still within striking distance. Meanwhile, the Hornets have sunk to near the bottom of the conference and are fighting for higher odds in the draft lottery instead of trying to make a playoff appearance since 2016.
Plenty of things have gone right for the Motor City squad over the years that have led it to this point. Drafting and developing Cade Cunningham has served as a strong foundation, and hiring J.B. Bickerstaff as coach last summer has proven to be a stroke of genius for the front office.
Of course, the roster is also filled with parts that match each other well. Among the players that have been key for the Pistons is Jalen Duren, a center the Hornets could have held onto in 2022.
Almost-Hornet Jalen Duren has been huge for Detroit
Three years ago, the draft saw Charlotte hold the No. 13 and 15 picks. However, the team decided to make a deal with the Pistons, who used it on Duren, for the earlier selection. It netted a 2023 first-rounder and a few second-round picks in return. The Hornets then acquired the rookie center of their choice, Mark Williams, with the 15th overall selection.
At the time, there were worries about whether the Queen City club would regret trading away Duren, whom some pundits saw as a more promising prospect than Williams.
The jury is out on whether that has turned out to be true.
While the Hornets big man seems to be the more offensively polished player, it's still worth noting that Duren has been one of the most efficient scorers in the league this season. On defense, both players have yet to maximize their imposing physique and athleticism to be game-changers on that end of the floor. If Williams can take a massive leap on defense, Charlotte might reconsider him as a long-term piece for the franchise.
It's hard to say which of the draft classmates has the higher floor and ceiling. What's certain, though, is that Duren has been more available for Detroit than Williams is for the Hornets. The University of Memphis product has never missed more than 21 games in a season and has already made 75 appearances in the 2024-25 campaign. Moreover, he has become a full-time starter for a playoff squad, while Mark has already been shipped away once.
So, there's a possibility that Charlotte might be regretting how its 2022 draft turned out. Maybe Williams can instill confidence in the organization by fulfilling his potential or helping it land a few assets again in a trade this summer.