Latest NBA Draft rumors: Possible trade partners for the Detroit Pistons

NBA Draft rumors: Detroit Pistons

New Orleans Pelicans

Stein added one team that I hadn’t heard much about in the New Orleans Pelicans, but it might make more sense for them to trade their pick than Portland.

The Pelicans made the playoffs last season and have Zion Williamson coming back to a team that also added CJ McCollum at the trade deadline. They are far more ready to win now than Portland, and already have a lot of young players on their roster.

They also have a couple of contracts they would love to get off their books in Garrett Temple and Devonte’ Graham, so if they could get off those contracts while getting some “win now compensation” they might be willing to move the 8th pick.

Jerami Grant is really the only player on the Detorit Pistons who meets those requirements and his salary is close enough to the combined contacts of Graham and Temple, but the question is whether the Pelicans would have any interest in Grant.

They are already loaded at forward with Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson, Herbert Jones, Larry Nance Jr., and Trey Murphy III, so it doesn’t seem like a match on paper. But with teams going more position-less, long wings who can defend multiple spots are extremely valuable, and Grant would give them some insurance against another Zion Williamson injury.

It does make some sense, though the Pistons may not be interested in taking on two contracts that extend beyond this season. Temple is washed and Graham is coming off a poor season, so the only real asset here is that 8th pick.

It would definitely be a “win now” move for the Pelicans but there are some aspects of this trade that both teams would balk at.

Of the rumored teams, Portland and New Orleans seem the most likely, but I would still rank these as long shots, as I am just not sure teams will view one year of Jerami Grant to be worth a top-10 pick.