Detroit Pistons: Pre-draft Q and A with The Athletic’s James Edwards III

The 2021 NBA Draft is less than a week away, and the anticipation amongst Detroit Pistons fans has reached its boiling point.

For the first time since 1970, the Detroit Pistons will be making the first overall selection in the draft. This occasion also marks the first time Detroit has moved up in the lottery with their own pick.

Oklahoma State guard Cade Cunningham is the presumptive number one pick for Detroit. The 19-year-old point guard has been the top prospect in the 2021 Draft Class for well over a year at this point.

In addition to the first overall pick, the Pistons also enter the July 29 draft with three second-round selections. Detroit owns the 37th, 42nd, and 52nd picks in the draft.

Detroit Pistons: Some NBA Draft questions still remain

With the team owning four total draft picks, there are many uncertainties for the Detroit Pistons heading into the 2021 NBA Draft.

While Cunningham is the expected first overall pick, there is no guarantee Pistons GM Troy Weaver does not look elsewhere in this draft. Reports indicate Detroit views USC’s Evan Mobley and G-League Ignite guard Jalen Green in high regard. It is possible Weaver could look to trade down if he covets one of them more than Cunningham.

There has also been speculation that the Pistons front office could look to use a combination of their three second-round picks to trade up into the late first round. Weaver has shown an eye for talent outside of the lottery and gaining another first-round talent for the team would not be an unexpected move for the second-year GM.

To get some semblance of clarity on these questions, along with addressing a few odds and ends, I sat down with The Athletic‘s Pistons beat writer James Edwards III.