The Detroit Pistons are currently at the bottom of the NBA standings, which means they can fall no further than 5th in the upcoming NBA Draft Lottery.
Of course, that would be devastating to fans who are praying for Victor Wembanyama to save us, and represent the worst-case scenario for a team that needs elite talent.
The Pistons could certainly still find an impact talent in that range, but most draft experts think there is a big drop off after the first two or three picks, depending on how you view Brandon Miller as a prospect.
Beyond that, it is just a crapshoot as usual, so if the Pistons were to land the 5th pick, trading back might be an option, and there is one team that could make a good partner.
Detroit Pistons draft: Trading with the Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic have two picks in the lottery, their own, and the one they are owed from the Bulls as part of the disastrous Vucevic trade that I am certain the Bulls would not do again.
Orlando is already one of the best young teams in the league and may not feel that they need to add two more lottery picks. They are sniffing the play-in this season and undoubtedly want to be playoff contenders next year, so adding two more rookies may not be in the cards for them.
In my first and only spin on Tankathon today, the Pistons dropped to 5th (puke) and Orlando ended up with the 7th and 10th picks.
If this were to happen, would Detroit consider trading their 5th pick for the 7th and 10th? That would obviously depend on Orlando’s plans, as they could try to package those picks to make a big trade. For them to want to move up, they would really have to want someone in that 5th slot and there may not be a player that warrants that kind of expense.
But for the sake of argument, let’s pretend the Magic are willing to deal. Would the Detroit Pistons be interested?
Detroit Pistons draft: Trading with the Orlando Magic
No, don’t do it!
My first instinct is to say “absolutely not” and move on.
The Detroit Pistons need to select the best player available with their pick whether they are choosing 1st, 5th or somewhere in between.
This is their chance to add top-5 talent for three straight years, so it you believe in The Process, this is exactly why you tank, to get multiple shots at players who could become superstars. The farther you drop in the draft, the less likely that is to happen, so even if Detroit drops to 5th, they should just take the guy who they think is best.
There’s also the issue of roster spots, as the Pistons already have 10 players under contract for next season and spaces will be at a premium. If they really want to turn the corner next season, adding two (possibly three) more rookies to the roster is not the way to do it.
They would also be potentially helping one of the teams they will have to leapfrog to get into the play-in discussion next season and Orlando is already ahead of them in terms of development.
If the Pistons were to drop to 5th, they should just take the best wing available whether it is Amen/Ausar Thompson, Jarace Walker or someone else.
Detroit Pistons draft: Trading with the Orlando Magic
Yes, do it!
If you really believe the point of tanking is to get maximum chances to add a star, then two picks are better than one, no?
The difference between pick five and seven is negligible in this draft (which is likely why Orlando wouldn’t do this trade) and the Pistons may be able to get the guy they like most and another pick on top of it, similar to what they did last year with Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren.
If the Pistons like Cam Whitmore as much or more than the Thompson twins or Walker, then trading back might make sense, as they could still probably get him with the 7th pick and then use the 10th to swing for the fences on upside or go with more of a sure thing like sharpshooter Gradey Dick.
It’s also possible that Detroit could use one of the picks to package in a trade, so could walk away from the draft with a lottery prospect as well as a more established player to plug into their rotation.
Outside of Wembanyama, this draft is wide open, so who knows, the best player (other than Wemby) could be taken outside of the top-5 and trading back would give the Detroit Pistons two chances to find him.
Yes, Detroit does have young players, but how many of them are really seen as part of the future? Outside of Cunningham, Ivey and Duren, the rest have unclear futures with the team.
I think you can make an argument either way, though let’s hope that it doesn’t come to this and the Pistons are instead choosing first, which will be an easy call that would have the city of Detroit dancing in the streets.