2023 NBA Mock Draft: Pistons, Pacers, Bulls and Heat make trades
2023 NBA Mock Draft: Pistons trade back with Pacers
The Detroit Pistons have a number of options with the 5th pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, including trading back for additional assets.
This trade was suggested by our friends over at 8 Points 9 Seconds and I thought it was a good one for the Pistons:
In this trade, the Pistons move back two spots in exchange for Chris Duarte, Jordan Nwora and the 29th pick in the draft.
The Pistons would still get their choice of whatever wing was left from the group of Cam Whitmore, Jarace Walker, Ausar Thompson or Taylor Hendricks, plus grab a shooter in Duarte, who has had his injury woes but should be a knockdown 3-point shooter at some point. Nwora is a cheap, 3-and-D type for the bench, and the Pistons would pick up another late first-round pick that they could package with the 31st to move up or to grab another player.
Pacers’ fans seem to be worried that the Magic are going to take the guy they like, so this would allow them to move up and add a veteran shooter to their bench. Detroit would actually pick up some cap space in the deal and get two young players for their bench who fit their timeline perfectly.
Scouting Report. Cam Whitmore. player. 100. Villanova. 5. Pick Analysis. Forward
The Pacers get an explosive wing to pair with their young backcourt and now have a pretty good young core to build around. If they decide to blow it up, there will be trades out there for Buddy Hield and Myles Turner, or they could roll with this roster and potentially make the play-in with a mixture of young players and veterans.