Detroit Pistons: One NBA Draft trade with every team in the Central

Detroit Pistons: 2022 NBA Draft trade with the Indiana Pacers

Depending on how the first four picks of the 2022 NBA Draft go, I think the Pacers are probably the team in the Central Division that the Pistons are most likely to trade with, though it is still a long shot.

The Pacers have the 6th pick in the draft, one behind the Pistons, so if they really wanted to move up, it’s possible Detroit could move back in exchange for a future asset.

In the past, it has cost teams at least one future first-round pick to move into the top-5, so that is the price here.

Why Indiana would do it: The Pacers would only do this trade if they thought the Pistons were going to take the player they really wanted in the 2022 NBA Draft. If they have targeted someone like Shaedon Sharpe or Jaden Ivey and think the Pistons are going to nab him, they could move up one spot by giving up their second-round pick as well as a future first owed to them by Cleveland. The Cleveland pick isn’t likely to be in the lottery, so they’d likely be giving up a second round pick and a pick in the 20’s to move up one spot and get the guy they want.

The Detroit would do it: This would take a little gamesmanship by the Pistons, as they’d have to convince the Pacers that they were definitely taking the guy they wanted unless Detroit was compensated. The Pistons would only do this if they thought they could still get their guy with the 6th pick and if that were the case, then why not? They’d be getting an extra 2nd-round pick and a future first for nothing. I think this would be a no-brainer if one of the guys they liked was still there, but it is hard to see Indiana giving up multiple assets to move up just one spot.