The Detroit Pistons are trying to rebuild and need as many top draft picks as they can get.
They currently have the second-worst record in the NBA, which places them right in the thick of the NBA draft lottery.
But the lottery is a crapshoot and simply finishing with a bottom three record does not guarantee a top pick, as the Pistons know all too well.
Detroit would love to add another potentially high lottery pick to increase their chances of getting the number one overall or at least landing in the top-three.
The Golden State Warriors are sitting on a future pick from Minnesota that is looking very valuable, as the Timberwolves are the only team in the NBA that currently has a worse record than the Pistons.
Is there a way for the Detroit Pistons to get the Minny pick from Golden State? Let’s take a look.
Detroit Pistons: Trading with the Golden State Warriors
The Warriors are currently the 8th seed, so they are unlikely to give up this pick unless they are getting at least one back in return.
The Warriors don’t want to waste any of Stephen Curry‘s remaining years and need help at center. Would they be willing to move off that pick to get it? Probably not, but it would be worth a call.
This is just the skeleton of the trade, as there would have to be some other contracts moving unless the Warriors wanted to go into the luxury tax, which they probably don’t in a season without any fans in the stands.
But this gives an idea of what might work. Would either of these teams be interested?
Detroit Pistons: Trading Mason Plumlee to the Warriors
We identified the Golden State Warriors as one of the teams that might be interested in trading for Mason Plumlee.
But would they move off this potentially valuable Minnesota pick to do it? Probably not.
Plumlee would be a nice addition to the Warriors if they are desperate to win now, as he can rebound, pass and would fit in well with their offense.
He is also on a team-friendly contract that wouldn’t hurt the Warriors’ future cap space, so they might have some interest, especially with the injury problems Kevon Looney and James Wiseman have had this season.
The Pistons adding a sweetener of two first round picks might help, especially because they are far enough down the line that the Warriors may be in a rebuild themselves.
Wiseman will be good by then and the Warriors would have Detroit’s 2023 and 2025 picks as long as it lands in the top-16. Obviously there would have to be some protections for the Warriors so that they could kick that pick down the road if they didn’t like where it was.
It would still be a hard sell, as the Minny pick is almost guaranteed to be in the top-five and would give the Warriors a valuable trade chip. Would the Detroit Pistons throw in a second 1st-round pick?
Possibly, as you can only have so many young players and Detroit already has plenty. But for the chance to have two top-five picks in this draft? It might be worth it.
Detroit Pistons: Trading with the Golden State Warriors
Even if the Pistons had to throw in a second 1st-round pick, it might be worth it for a chance to get both Cade Cunningham and one of the other future stars from this draft.
The Detroit Pistons could use these picks to build around Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart while picking up some insurance against Killian Hayes not returning from injury at 100 percent.
This wouldn’t be much of a gamble for Detroit, as they already have a lot of young guys and wouldn’t need too many future picks if they got two top-five picks in the 2021 draft.
I think it is safe to say that the Detroit Pistons wouldn’t be the team hanging up the phone on this one unless the Warriors really wanted them to go deep into their coffers for additional picks.
Mason Plumlee by himself might get a 1st round pick from someone but if the Pistons were to add additional assets or take back a bad contract, they might increase their chances.
It’s a trade that is not likely to happen but that Minnesota pick is pretty tempting and the Detroit Pistons should at least be putting out some feelers to see what it might take to get it.