The Detroit Pistons have been at the bottom of the league for too long. With the NBA preseason schedule underway, the Pistons are looking to start the season off on an optimistic foot. The Pistons have not won over 24 games since the 2018-19 season, and their annual tanking has yet to provide them with a bonafide franchise superstar. Our 2024-25 NBA season betting preview will look at the Pistons odds and determine if their win total is worth your best NBA futures bet.
2024-25 NBA Betting Preview: Detroit Pistons Win Total Odds
*All Pistons odds are courtesy of FanDuel.com*
A Year to Forget
We know everybody needed the Cade edit
P.S. that block tho 👀 pic.twitter.com/1PGAksx51T
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) October 7, 2024
The Pistons desperately need to put last season behind them. Their record of 14-68 was the worst in franchise history, and they missed the playoffs for the fifth straight season. They went under their projected win total of 28.5. Worst of all for the Pistons, their epic tanking job landed them the fifth overall pick. They are still brimming with young potential, but after five seasons at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, something needs to change.
Former number-one overall pick Cade Cunningham has shown flashes of greatness, but in his three years in the NBA, he has yet to play 65 games in a regular season. Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren have shown potential, but neither is tracking to be an NBA star. Ausar Thompson was the Pistons lottery pick from last season, he played incredible defense but posted averages of 8.8 points and 6.4 rebounds in his rookie season.
Despite not being cleared for training camp, Ausar Thompson has been able to participate in individual workouts. #Pistons #Detroit Basketball pic.twitter.com/VtLjbqk7ol
— Coty M. Davis (@CotyDavis_24) October 1, 2024
Offseason Moves
It seems like the Pistons had a plan this offseason and executed it. No longer waiting patiently at the bottom of the standings, they decided that bringing some veteran leadership to the locker room could not only help them win more now but also help their directionless youth movement grow as well.
The Pistons brought back Tobias Harris in free agency and signed sharpshooter Malik Beasley. The Pistons grabbed Tim Hardaway Jr. in a trade as well. With these three, the Pistons depth chart looks a lot more solid than last season, although that isn’t saying much. Improving upon last season won’t be hard for the Pistons, as they were one of the worst teams of all time. Real improvement, however, would take place if bringing in veterans helps Cunningham, Ivey, or Thompson take significant steps forward.
Detroit Pistons’ Odds
The Pistons are currently projected to win 25.5 games next season. The over is set at -105 and the under at -115. The Pistons haven’t won that many games in five seasons and have gone under their projected win total for five straight seasons.
Tobias on Ron Holland: “My biggest piece of advice to him is to eat solid, because he told me when we first met that he doesn’t like salad. I knew me and him were going to have a great bond when he told me that. I said, ‘I’m going to make sure I do my part for you.’” pic.twitter.com/O7t681XKWV
— Omari Sankofa II (@omarisankofa) October 1, 2024
If Cunningham has a fully healthy season, something he hasn’t proven he can do, 26 or more wins is doable. Adding players like Harris and Beasley give the Pistons shooting that they haven’t had of late. Duren, Ivey, and Thompson could also take significant leaps next season, judging by their age and the potential they’ve shown.
All of that being said, the Pistons roster is still one of the worst in the NBA. Don’t expect them to make the playoffs or even get close, but 26 wins don’t seem completely out of reach. Betting on the Pistons’ win total over has been a losing game of late.
