In the wake of landing the first overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft Lottery, Detroit Pistons fans across the globe are salivating as they eagerly await the July 29 date of the draft.
And fans have good reason to be excited.
The presumptive first pick for the Detroit Pistons is Oklahoma State point guard Cade Cunningham. After a long, difficult season in which their team finished with a record of 20-52, second-worst in the league.
Pistons fans will finally see their “Fade for Cade” dreams become a reality.
All of the excitement surrounding the first overall pick has made Detroit’s lessexciting second-round picks fall by the wayside.
The Pistons have three second-round picks in this year’s draft: the 37th pick from Toronto via Brooklyn, the 42nd pick from Charlotte via New York, and the 52nd pick from Los Angeles via Sacramento, Houston, and Detroit.
Detroit Pistons: Trading back into the first round is a serious option
There has been speculation that Pistons GM Troy Weaver is going to use these second-round picks to trade up into the late first-round come draft night. Weaver has shown he has an eye for late first-round talents. He acquired Isaiah Stewart and Saddiq Bey with the 16th and 19th picks, respectively, in the previous draft. Both players would go on to be named to the NBA’s All-Rookie teams.
If Weaver pulls the trigger on a deal that lands the Pistons a pick in the 20s, there is a good chance he will target a wing player who can defend and shoot efficiently from long range.
Detroit ranked 22nd in both three-pointers made and shooting percentage on threes. Three-point shooting is a severe area of need for the Pistons, so drafting a prospect who shoots well from beyond the arc should be a priority for the second-year GM.
Besides shooting, you want the player to be a decent defensive player because, well, why wouldn’t you want a player to be good defensively.
Here are three of the best three-and-D prospects who could be available if the Pistons are able to trade back into the first round.