The Detroit Pistons have the 5th and 46th picks in the 2022 NBA Draft, which figures to be a wild one.
Not only is there no consensus top player, but you can barely get agreement on the top three, as some experts believe the best player will fall outside of the “Big 3.”
This could lead to more movement than normal, as teams think they might be able to move back, grab an asset and still get the guy they like in the draft.
I think there is a slight chance the Pistons will move up in the draft, but it is far more likely that they would move down, as Troy Weaver has said that there are at least seven players in the 2022 NBA Draft that the Pistons would be comfortable choosing.
If the Detroit Pistons are going to make a draft day trade, there are a few interesting possibilities in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference.
These are all just hypotheticals, and while they are all long shots to actually happen, it will give you an idea of what might be out there for the Detroit Pistons when it comes to trades in the 2022 NBA Draft.
Detroit Pistons draft: 1 trade with every team in the Southeast
Miami Heat
The Heat are one win away from a return to the NBA Finals and have one impact shooter the Detroit Pistons may be able to get for a lowball price.
Why the Heat would do it: Duncan Robinson has played sparingly in the playoffs and the Heat will be desperate to get off his contract this offseason, as it runs through the 2025-26 season and they have a much cheaper option in Max Strus, who is also younger. The Heat had to forfeit their second-round pick in 2022, so would recoup one with the 46th pick, and add two more future 2nd-round picks as well. No one is going to give up much for Robinson, especially now, as the Heat have absolutely no leverage.
Why the Pistons would do it: There are definitely pros and cons to a guy like Robinson, as he does offer one skill the Pistons need (shooting) but is making $16.9, 18.1, 19.4, 19.8 million over the next four seasons, though the last season is not fully guaranteed. The Pistons would be using up most of their available cap space in such a move, so they’d have to be sure that Robinson was not in a downslide in his career at age 28. Even at this low price, it would be a lot for the Pistons to take on without sending a contract back.