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Should Detroit Pistons keep their first round pick if it stays at 12?

By Braden Shackelford

Apr 12, 2017; Orlando, FL, USA; Detroit Pistons forward Henry Ellenson (8) celebrates with forward Tobias Harris (34) and forward Reggie Bullock (25) against the Orlando Magic during the second half at Amway Center. The Magic won 113-109. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 12, 2017; Orlando, FL, USA; Detroit Pistons forward Henry Ellenson (8) celebrates with forward Tobias Harris (34) and forward Reggie Bullock (25) against the Orlando Magic during the second half at Amway Center. The Magic won 113-109. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Detroit Pistons are projected to pick 12th overall in the upcoming NBA draft. If the lottery balls finalize that position, would the pick be worth keeping?

The Detroit Pistons need shooting help. They also need an upper echelon talent to take the team to another level. After all, how many playoff teams remaining are lacking a player of this caliber? The answer is not one.

Potentially, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope could grow into a two-way all-star and fill that void, but even then, there’s no guarantee that happens.

Sure, the Pistons could find the next Paul George or Kawhi Leonard in this draft (drafted 10th and 15th), and there are other examples of late lottery talent blossoming into upper-tier players. There’s the chance too, that a really good player falls to the Pistons.

It’s just that none of this is very likely.

That raises a questions: If the Pistons land the 12th overall pick, as they are projected to, would drafting at that position be worth keeping?

My answer: No.

The methodical perspective would be to stand pat, draft the best player available and make some minor tweaks to the roster to see what the Pistons look like at full strength. I think that is a fine direction for the team, though I don’t think it will move the needle much.

What would move the needle, however, is packaging the 12th pick and a few assets to move into the top-tier of players, though a move of that magnitude would likely include Andre Drummond.

Now the argument here is that the draft is a crap shoot and that the Pistons could swing and miss. My response would be that moving Drummond clears cap space and gives the team a chance at an upper-tier player. With Drummond’s limitations and lack of improvement, the Pistons best bet might be to move him now.

This move would either work, delivering the team a game-changing talent, or it wouldn’t, but I think a serious argument could be made that the team wouldn’t experience too much of a drop off without Drummond.

Next: Upcoming free agents remaining in the playoffs

That’s my take, what’s yours?

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