Detroit Pistons: The state of the restoration as the season starts
Detroit Pistons: State of the restoration
For a team that hasn’t been good in awhile, the Pistons are not loaded with assets as some of the other bad teams are, as they have not been able to hoard draft picks like OKC.
They do have their own heavily protected pick next season (as long as it’s in the top-18), but owe one to OKC eventually. It’s protected through 2027, and the Pistons won’t have to convey it until they are at least in the top half of the league and out of the lottery.
But Detroit does have some trade assets in Alec Burks, Nerlens Noel and Bojan Bogdanovic, three quality veterans on expiring deals that could almost certainly net them some extra assets this season if they decide to move them.
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If Detroit is completely out of contention at the trade deadline, expect all three of these guys to be moved, though I could see a scenario where Detroit decides to keep Bogdanovic or Burks, as they need shooting and both guys can provide it at a reasonable cost.
Detroit is not loaded with assets, so is probably only going to have one first-round pick in the next draft (though we know that can change quickly) unless they can find a trade with a contender who is desperate enough for shooting to give up a first rounder for Bogdanovic.
The Detroit Pistons’ restoration is still far from complete, as they need more star power, a wing stopper and more assets to build with, but they have a solid foundation and are miles away from where they were two seasons ago.
Now we just have to sit back, watch this roster develop and hope they have at least two or three future stars already in place.