Detroit Pistons: Evaluating four teams looking to trade up to No. 1 in NBA draft

Detroit Pistons fans across the globe breathed a collective sigh of relief following the 2021 NBA Draft Lottery. After years of play that bounced between poor to mediocre, the Detroit Pistons finally landed the first overall pick in a draft.

It was the first time the team has moved up with their own pick in franchise history. This is the first time Detroit will be picking first overall since they selected Bob Lanier in 1970.

Oklahoma State point guard Cade Cunningham is the presumptive selection that will be made by Pistons GM Troy Weaver. The 19-year-old has been the consensus top prospect in the 2021 draft class for well over a year now.

It certainly appears that Cunningham will be in a Pistons jersey come the start of the 2021-22 regular season. Weaver has tipped his hand a bit heading into the NBA Draft on July 29th. The GM went as far as calling Cunningham the “the type of player we’re looking for here in Detroit.”

That being said, Weaver did state that the first overall pick is not untradeable.

The second-year GM added he does not view any of this year’s prospects as a LeBron James type of franchise-altering star. Cunningham will likely be the selection if Detroit remains at pick number one, but Weaver will  listen to any trade offers that come his way. Does not cost anything to listen.

A report by DraftExpress has isolated the Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston Rockets, New Orleans Pelicans, and Oklahoma City Thunder as four teams, among many, looking to trade up to the first pick.

Undoubtedly, Troy Weaver has fielded phone calls from these teams gauging his interest in trading down. How interested Weaver actually is, in moving away from the No. 1 pick depends entirely on the trade packages these franchises put together.

Also, Weaver’s evaluation of Cunningham is also key. Cunningham’s camp has announced they will work out for the Pistons, but no other team. If Cunningham proves in his workout to be better than anyone else, the prospect of a trade lessens. However, if Weaver decides that Jalen Green and/or Evan Mobley are pretty much on the same level as him, the possibility of a trade is much bigger.

While it is unlikely that Weaver will trade the first overall pick away, he will listen to the offers for it. Cleveland, Houston, New Orleans, and Oklahoma City all have valuable trade pieces they can move. Whether it be young talent or draft capital, each of these teams has something Detroit will have some interest in.

Here is a breakdown of what each of these four teams can offer to Detroit and how much interest the Pistons’ front office would have in making a trade for No. 1.