Detroit Pistons: 3 NBA Draft trades with the San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an unlikely trade partner, simply because they rarely make trades. Even rarer is them doing trades for draft picks. But, it’s the offseason, so why not see if they are a possible trade partner for the Detroit Pistons?
The Pistons are looking to complete their rebuild in the upcoming NBA Draft and field a competitive team in the 2021-22 season. The Pistons are also sorely lacking established veterans. The Spurs are at a crossroads, as they have some young talent but also several veterans who are set to become free agents.
The Spurs also could have a massive amount of cap space that would allow them to take back a contract and potentially free some money for the Detroit Pistons.
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Both teams have assets, it’s just a matter of if either would be willing to give up enough to alter the course of the franchises for the better.
Detroit Pistons: Trading potential for a veteran leader
The Spurs only have two picks in this year’s draft and only nine guaranteed roster slots in the upcoming offseason. Detroit, on the other hand, has more second-round draft picks than they can shake a stick at. If Patty Mills re-signs with the Spurs, and Hamidou Diallo re-signs with the Detroit Pistons, the two players could be traded for each other.
Diallo is a high-flying slasher that the Pistons have no shortage of, and Mills offers dead-eye shooting, especially compared to Diallo. Mills was the leader of the bench unit in San Antonio and has double the assist numbers of Diallo. Admittedly, he is a poor defender.
Mills is battle-tested and a respected veteran who could guide Detroit’s young core, especially the numerous guards currently on the roster. He would not be a starter, but he would be on the court in the final minutes of a close game, which is when it really counts. Diallo is a young asset, but the Pistons need leadership.
In order to pry away a fan favorite, the Pistons would have to throw in the 42nd overall pick, the middle of their three second-round picks. It would have to be a double sign-and-trade, so the logistics are tricky, but it would result in both teams filling some holes.
This trade probably wouldn’t move the needle much for the Detroit Pistons, and they might be able to get Mills in free agency anyway, so here is another trade that would make more of an impact.