2011 NBA Draft Results: Loser- Brandon Knight for Falling to Eighth…and Detroit

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Kentucky point guard Brandon Knight was almost a lock for the top five before the draft. Cleveland implied that they wanted him at four, and not Kyrie Irving at the top. Utah was tight-lipped about their third pick, but certainly had need for a point.

If he somehow dropped below that point, there wasn’t any chance he’d fall below Sacramento at seventh, another team that could certainly use him.

Well, all those contingencies fell through, and through a big lottery trade and a few surprise picks, Knight was the only one left without a chair when Detroit picked at eight. The Pistons, not urgently needing a point guard, looked around to make sure no one was watching, then stole Knight with their pick because he was presumably the best player left on the board.

This is a real bummer for Knight, who had better situations awaiting him in all three of his expected destinations. He would have been the starter within a year at all three places, which would give him lots of freedom and responsibility as one the best young players.

With Detroit, he’s stuck in a competition for playing time with Rodney Stuckey and Will Bynum on a team that hasn’t changed from the group that quit on its coach last season.

You can find excitement and hope in going to just about all of the other 29 teams. Going to Detroit in 2011 is kind of like kissing your sister. It’s a shame that Knight slid a few picks on draft night and had the misfortune of landing with the Pistons.

Stay tuned to Bleacher Report for all things related to the NBA Draft.

--Jason Heim

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