The Detroit Pistons could be one of several teams who make a draft night trade. The Pistons have been rumored to be interested in moving out of the fifth spot the past couple of weeks. Per the Detroit Free Press, Pistons’ general manager Troy Weaver confirmed the team’s openness to trade the pick on Tuesday during a pre-draft conference.
“We’re still open to improving the team, absolutely,” he said. “Do we like the players that we’ve been vetting out at five? Absolutely. We’re still open to different opportunities as well. Definitely still looking at all of our options to improve the team.
“These top-five, top-seven picks are valuable because it’s unpredictable after one,” he continued later. “We feel good about the value of five, and there’s been a lot of bantering and talk back and forth on a lot of picks. We feel good about being at five and the value there.”
NBA Rumors: Detroit Pistons General Manager Troy Weaver Looking to Improve Team With Lottery Pick Whether They Keep It Or Not
Detroit needs a lot of talent. Cade Cunningham missed most of the season with a shin injury, but he is still a star in the making. 2022 first-round selections Jaden Ivory and Jalen Duren had strong rookie campaigns and are building blocks. However, Ivory and Duren still have a lot of areas of improvement. James Wiseman, Isaiah Stewart, and Marvin Bagley III are still very young and have shown some ability, although they are more role players. Stewart and Bojan Bogdanovic are trade candidates.
Who Are the Pistons’ Potential Trade Partners?
Utah and Orlando are seen as the two most likely trade partners for Detroit, as both have draft capital. Utah owns the No. 9, 16, and 28th picks, while Orlando has No. 6 and 11. The Pistons could use some of their $30 million cap space to acquire contracts from teams looking to dump salary with future assets attached. The Pistons also own the No. 31 pick.
“There’s some thought there,” Weaver told Keith Langos of Pistons.com about the opportunity to make trades. “As soon as draft night but also after it. Teams are really having to start looking at their roster composition and how it plays out. There could be some vulnerable situations that we could take advantage of, and we want to be prepared and working hard to make sure that if those opportunities are afforded, we’re there.”
Utah is an unlikely trade partner unless Detroit wants to add another draft choice.
Orlando is more of a possibility. But would the Magic trade both lottery selections to move up one spot? Would the Pistons be interested in Wendell Carter Jr. as part of a package? Perhaps, although the Magic may not be thinking about parting with him as they also have a lot of cap space.
The Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets, and Indiana Pacers are other teams rumored to be interested in moving up in the draft. Oklahoma City and Washington also are possible candidates to move up in the draft.
What Could Teams Possibly Offer Detroit?
The Lakers don’t have many assets, so they are probably out of the running. The Thunder also appear to be unlikely partners as their only first-rounder is at No. 12. They also own a couple of second-rounders.
Golden State owns the No. 19 pick and could include Jordan Poole or Jonathan Kuminga. The Warriors have been rumored to be willing to move one or both.
Brooklyn has the 21st and 22nd picks. Spencer Dinwiddie, Joe Harris, and Nic Claxton are on expiring deals.
Indiana has five draft picks and is not expected to use them all. The Pacers own the seventh, 26th, and 29th in the first round.
Washington is apparently in rebuild mode. The Wizards didn’t get much in the Bradley Beal trade. So, they may want to move up. Kristaps Porzingis could be a $36 million trade chip. Landry Shamet, Monte Morris, Delon Wright, and Deni Avidja are on expiring deals.
Who Could the Pistons Select If They Keep The Selection?
If Detroit does use the fifth pick, expect Weaver to go big. Monty Williams is also said to be part of the draft process.
“I like the long ball,” Weaver said during the pre-draft press conference. “I’m not bunting or trying to slap it into short center. I take a big swing. Especially if I only have one chance at it. If I have three chances, OK, I may bunt one. But one chance at it, I’m going for the big fly. That’s me.”
The Pistons have worked out six prospects expected to fall in the No. 4- No. 9 range. Amen Thompson, Ausar Thompson, Cam Whitmore, Jarace Walker, Taylor Hendricks, and Anthony Black have been front and center for the Pistons.
“He’s an electric athlete in space and transition, has a great first step, is an elite leaper, has tremendous hang time and body control in the air. He attacks the basket aggressively. But he also is a very high-level passer and playmaker who can find his teammates from all sorts of angles and positions. Defensively, Thompson has some real mechanical issues to clean up, but his length and athleticism give him all sorts of upside, and he already makes consistent plays on that end. He needs more experience making reads in half-court settings — he didn’t get a chance at a lot of that with Overtime Elite, comparatively to other prospects. But his upside is enormous because of the pressure he puts on defenses.”
What Scouts Had to Say About the Others
“Thompson is an elite athlete who impacts the game in many ways. He’s a strong defender who flies around in help as a good rim protector and playmaker in passing lanes. He’s a strong, technical on-ball defender. Offensively, he can get out on the break and score, and in the half court, he’s a sharp cutter and driver of the basketball. His passing is maybe my favorite skill, especially as a secondary ballhandler. As a finisher, Thompson has a terrific package of touch finishes and layups in addition to above-the-rim athleticism. The guy Thompson reminds me of most is Andre Iguodala, even down to the shooting questions that Thompson will have to work through early in his career. My bet is Thompson is an impact player because of how well-rounded his game is.”
Whitmore has a ridiculous upside because he has an elite blend of explosiveness and strength. Coming in at about 230 pounds, Whitmore is an amazing leaper with a 40-inch vertical jump. He rises through contact powerfully and throws down around the basket. But there’s more than that. He is a shot creator who can knock down pull-up jumpers from behind the 3-point line. He has a good first step when attacking the basket. Defensively, he’s a very good on-ball defender with real switchability because of his strength and quickness. The main concern here is his overall feel as an offensive player.”
“Hendricks is the biggest riser of this draft class. He’s over 6-9 in shoes and has a 7-1 wingspan. He’s an elite defensive player and has real athleticism. He slides his feet incredibly well as an on-ball defender and has switchability. Off the ball, he’s very impactful as a weakside rim protector who can fly over in help situations and block shots. And offensively, Hendricks was very valuable. He averaged 15.1 points and seven rebounds while shooting 39.4 percent from the field on real volume. Hendricks needs to improve as an offensive playmaker and ballhandler. But it’s easy to imagine Hendricks stepping into the NBA early and playing relatively early as a useful 3-and-D player while he continues to round out his game.”
