Detroit Pistons: Rockets are making a desperate push for the number one pick

Detroit Pistons: The second and 13th picks should not be enough for Cade Cunningham

While offering up two lottery picks in exchange for the first overall pick is enticing, ultimately the Detroit Pistons would be better off staying put at number one.

While picking up the second overall pick would allow Detroit to have their pick of either USC center Evan Mobley or G-League Ignite guard Jalen Green, receiving the 13th pick would not guarantee them one of the other prospects that are high on their draft board.

Other lottery prospects who have been connected to the Pistons, such as UConn guard James Bouknight, would certainly be taken before Detroit would have the opportunity to select at the 13th pick. If Weaver is not guaranteed a player high on his draft board being available at the 13th pick, he has no reason to trade down and acquire it.

The Pistons have waited 51 years for the opportunity to have the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft. They are not going to give it up for a mid-round draft pick. This is not the Godfather offer Weaver is looking for.

Ultimately, the 13th overall pick is too late in the lottery for it to move the needle on a potential trade for number one. If Houston were to have any chance at trading up with Detroit, they would likely need to find their way into the top seven or eight.

Unless the Rockets can put together a blockbuster trade package to offer Weaver and the front office, it appears that the Pistons are going to stick with the number one pick and select Cunningham.