Pistons could work a 3-team deal with Warriors and Mavericks

The Detroit Pistons will be exploring any and all ways to improve their roster this offseason.

When you’re Detroit, it’s not as simple as just opening the checkbook and signing a superstar free agent, as they aren’t the hottest market, so have to build their team through the draft and trades.

With the 5th pick in the upcoming 2023 NBA Draft, the Pistons have a good, not great, asset to dangle and could use it to grab a more experienced, well-known commodity.

When trading a draft pick, you are always potentially giving up the chance to draft a player that could become a star. It’s the hope of the unknown that makes the draft so compelling, but what if the Pistons could use that draft pick to land a young player who has some experience but still has massive upside?

A situation in Golden State the Pistons should be monitoring

There may be such a player available in Golden State this summer, as Jonathan Givony from ESPN reported that the Warriors are considering trading forward Jonathan Kuminga:

"“Sources tell ESPN the Warriors are also exploring the option of acquiring a high draft pick in exchange for a young prospect such as Jonathan Kuminga.”"

It’s strange to me that a win-now team like the Warriors would be interested in flipping Kuminga for a draft pick, but if they are, the Detroit Pistons might have interest, as Kuminga is an exciting young player who would fit in with the Pistons’ young core.

He’s a big forward with high defensive upside and out-of the-gym athleticism who improved as last season when on and ended up with very respectable numbers for a second-year player on a team with title aspirations.

The 20-year-old averaged 9.9 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game on very good shooting splits of 52.5 percent from the field and 37 percent from long range. He showed huge upside in the home stretch of the season, putting together a string of big games that had Warriors’ fans drooling.

The 31st pick is not enough to land Kuminga, so Detroit would potentially be looking at giving up the 5th pick. The Pistons would have to ask themselves if they thought Kuminga (who was drafted 7th overall) will be better than whoever they could choose with the 5th pick.

Keep in mind that Kuminga (who really would be a nice fit with Cade and Ivey) is the same age as prospects Brandon Miller and Amen and Ausar Thompson while already having two years of NBA experience under his belt. Kuminga is just a month older than Miller and given that he’s already shown he can play in the NBA, his ceiling may actually be higher.

There’s also a chance the Pistons wouldn’t have to give up the 5th pick, as they could potentially swing a deal with a team like the Mavericks to pick up another 1st-rounder, in which case they could flip that pick to the Warriors in a 3-team deal.

A three-teamer like this could have some traction:

It’s a compelling move to explore if in fact the Warriors actually do put Kuminga on the trade market. The Detroit Pistons will be monitoring this situation, as a big, athletic forward like Kuminga, who isn’t even close to his ceiling, would be a nice fit on their up and coming squad.