Right now, things are looking doom and gloom in the city of Detroit from our sports teams.

The Pistons had the worst record in the NBA. The Red Wings didn’t come as close to the playoffs as fans were hoping for. And the Tigers are looking like one of the worst teams in baseball again.

Not to mention after a valiant turn around from the Lions, they missed the postseason too.

But if all goes well, a year from now, things could be looking a lot brighter.

If the Pistons land the top pick in the NBA draft, they will win the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes. They will draft the 7’2 French unicorn and will be in a great spot to make the NBA playoffs which start mid-April.

Going from a 17-65 record to the playoffs sounds like a lot. But adding Big Vic to the roster is more than a lot. And getting Cade Cunningham back on the court would really boost this roster. Those two along with growth from Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren would mean a bright future is in store for the Pistons next year.

They also should have some cap space to help bring in solid rotation players to improve their bench. Bringing in veteran players who can help mentor the youth while providing steady play to spell them during games would also go a long way to improving the team.

Two Playoff Teams?

The Red Wings could also find themselves in the playoffs provided they get a little luck. They likely won’t have a top three draft pick like the Pistons should. But if the Wings can get some fast development out of one of their current prospects. That could help fast track their rebuild.

If Simon Edvinsson or Carter Mazur can come in next year and be a meaningful contributor to the team. Their odds of making the playoffs will increase.

The Wings also have some cap space to acquire outside talent this offseason. The free agents list isn’t great but there are some quality players on there. They also have a lot of good draft capital that can be used to trade for a player.

The other thing to note is general manager Steve Yzerman said in his year end press conference that his team must get better in all areas. He knows improvement is needed across the board. Don’t be surprised to see them add some outside help in July.

Detroit Also Gets to Play Host

Another reason for optimism next April isn’t so much a team, but an event. The NFL Draft will be held in Detroit next year. The festivities will take place between Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza. It should make a for an awesome event to attend.

Detroit doesn’t get to host major sporting events regularly due to its climate and non-coastal location. So to have the draft come here is a great honor that should be treated as such.

And on top of it, the Lions will hopefully be coming off of a successful season that includes a playoff win. If that happens the buzz around town during the draft will be electric.

The Tigers on the other hand… I don’t know what to say. They are a lost cause. The only way they will have any hope next season is if Ty Cobb, Hank Greenberg and Charlie Gehringer fall from the sky in their primes. Don’t hold your breath.

But a year from now, things should be looking a lot better for Detroit sports fans. And if none of our teams improve, we can meet downtown and have a beer at one of the coolest football events of the year.

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For more from the author Jeramy Stover, check him out on Twitter here: @jstover96

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