When the Detroit Pistons fell to the 5th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft fans were disappointed, as this as been billed 3-player draft with a lot of uncertainty beyond that.
We spent months dreaming of Chet Holmgren, Jabari Smith and Paolo Banchero, but now the Pistons have fallen into the second tier of prospects with Jaden Ivey, Shaedon Sharpe and Keegan Murray all viewed as potential picks.
With no real consensus of who the top guy is, it’s very possible that someone outside of the top-3 is going to get the best player in the 2022 NBA Draft, so I am certain Troy Weaver still feels he can get an impact talent at five and possibly even snag the draft’s best player.
But if the Pistons really loved one of those top-3 guys and were desperate to get him, it’s possible they could try to package their 5th pick with another asset or future pick to move up
Though it doesn’t happen often, there is recent precedent of a team moving up in the top-5, and there are two teams that make sense.
Detroit Pistons: Is moving up in the 2022 NBA Draft possible?
In the 2018 NBA Draft, the Atlanta Hawks traded the number three pick to move back two spots to number five, and got a future 1st-round pick for their troubles.
The Mavericks famously used that pick to take Luka Doncic, while the Hawks took Trae Young, which has worked out well for both teams, but you have to wonder if the Hawks would do that trade again.
A year before, the Celtics traded the number one overall pick to move back two spots, got an extra first round pick out of it, and then selected Jayson Tatum third, which worked out pretty well.
The point is that it can happen, and the price has been set for what it might take to do it.
Of the four teams drafting ahead of the Pistons, only two seem like candidates to trade out of their spot. It would cost too much for most teams to trade for the #1 pick, so Orlando is out and will just take the player they like.
Same with the Houston Rockets, who already have a future star in Jalen Green and can just add whichever of the top-3 guys is left with the 3rd pick.
The Thunder are always a wildcard and have the 2nd, 12th and 30th picks in the first round. They could go in a lot of ways here, but if Orlando takes the guy they want, I could see OKC moving back to pick up another asset and future pick. The Thunder are always busy, so you never know.
Same with the Kings (who took Marvin Bagley III instead of Luka or Trae), who want to make the playoffs after making the splashy trade for Domantas Sabonis this season and might use their 4th pick to get a player who can help them now.
Detroit Pistons: A 2022 NBA Draft trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder
While I do think anything is on the table with Sam Presti and he could opt to trade back, I could also see the Thunder going the other way and trying to swing for the fences on a star player to add to a roster that already has some exciting young talent.
The Thunder could see this as a chance to get two impact players in the top-5 instead of one:
In this trade, the Thunder get Beef Stew and the 5th pick in exchange for the 2nd pick. Stewart may not be enough to move back three spots, and the Thunder would probably want an additional protected 1st-round pick as well.
The Pistons already owe the Thunder a pick, which could convey next season if the Pistons make a big leap and end up choosing 19-30 in the draft.
If the Pistons were to throw in another first-round pick, it might be enough of a sweetener, but Troy Weaver would have to be pretty sure the guy he was taking at number two was worth it, as that is a lot to give up to move up a few spots.
But if Jabari Smith were there, it would be tempting to add a 2023 top-5 protected first-round pick to move up and get him, and the Thunder are in a position to remove the restrictions on the pick the Pistons already owe them.
From the OKC perspective, they may see not see Stewart as an upgrade from the young bigs they already have, though he does offer some different skills on defense. But Stewart and another future first round pick might get their attention.
I see this type of trade as unlikely, though like I said, Troy Weaver is not afraid to make bold moves when he has targeted his guy and Sam Presti has a million options with all of those picks.
There is also a scenario where the Pistons trade Jerami Grant to the Trail Blazers for the 7th pick and use both picks to move up, so moving Stewart is certainly not the only variable.
Detroit Pistons: A 2022 NBA Draft trade with the Sacramento Kings
This is a trade I’ve seen discussed in some form that does make sense for both teams depending on how the top-3 of the draft goes.
In this trade, the Pistons use Jerami Grant and the 5th pick to move up one spot while taking back center Richaun Holmes.
The Kings may view this as a way to make themselves a playoff contender (or at least play-in) while still getting a top-5 pick to add a young talent.
The Pistons would be getting a serviceable veteran center on a decent contract, pick up some additional cap space and get to move up one spot to assure they got the guy they wanted in the 2022 NBA Draft.
The only way I can see this happening is if there is a shakeup in the top-3 and the guy who falls is the player Troy Weaver envisions as being the perfect 2nd guy to put with Cade Cunningham.
Otherwise, I can’t see the Pistons trading the better player and taking on three more seasons of Holmes, though his contract isn’t bad. But if the Pistons could potentially get Grant’s replacement (if Banchero, Holmgren or Smith fell to four), while also getting an upgrade to their big-man group, it would be tempting.
That’s a whole lot of “ifs” so it will really come down to whether the Kings think Grant is enough of an upgrade to move back.
The most likely scenario is that all of these teams just take the player they think is best, but we have seen shocking draft-day trades in the past, and with no clear favorite, this might be a year when it could happen again.