The Detroit Pistons need to acquire another 1st-round draft pick

The Detroit Pistons have the worst record in the NBA, so it is obvious their list of needs is long.

They could use an athletic big man, or at least someone bigger than 6-foot-8 who can move around a little and block shots.

They really need shooting, as they are the worst 3-point shooting team in the NBA, which is holding back their offense as well as the development of Cade Cunningham and Killian Hayes, whose potential assists often turn into bricks.

But other than those two things, the Pistons really need to acquire another first-round draft pick, as the move they made to get Isaiah Stewart cost them a pick down the road and is prohibiting them from making moves.

The Detroit Pistons need a first round pick

The Pistons still owe the Houston Rockets a heavily protected pick that has not been conveyed. Because of the Stepien Rule, Detroit cannot trade a first-round pick until they’ve sent one to Houston.

Given that it is lottery protected for several more seasons, it’s possible that the Detroit Pistons won’t be sending that pick to Houston anytime soon, as they are definitely going to be in the lottery again this season and possibly a few more into the future.

This has hampered Detroit’s ability to use their available contracts to make deals, as they don’t have an asset in the form of a first-round pick to sweeten the pot.

If the Pistons end up trading Jerami Grant, which many believe they will, they will almost certainly recoup at least one first-round pick there, which they can either use as trade bait for future moves or use to replace the one they are eventually going to send to Houston.

The Detroit Pistons’ will have their hands tied when it comes to making big trades until they get their hands on another first-round pick, which should be one of the priorities in any future moves.