The 2023 NBA Draft is just a few days away and trade rumors are flying, including many that involve the Detroit Pistons.
Detroit has made it clear that everything is on the table, including trading the 5th pick, but as we know, this is smokescreen season and not every rumor has validity.
It’s just as likely that Detroit selects a player with the 5th pick, adding another exciting young talent to their core and then tries to address their holes in free agency and trades after the draft.
But Thursday is shaping up to be a wild day, as several teams are reportedly trying to trade their picks and there could also be more superstars on the trade market.
So here are five possible draft trades suggested by various sources, ranked by which one would most help the Detroit Pistons.
Ranking 5 possible draft trades for the Detroit Pistons
#5: Trading back with the Wizards
Now that the Wizards have finally traded Beal (what a travesty of asset management), it makes sense for them to lean into a full-blown rebuild. Kyle Kuzma and Kristaps Porzingis could also flee for greener pastures, leaving the Wizards with a roster barren of high-end talent.
Trying to move up in the draft makes sense, as they could get an exciting player to start building around and at least give their abused fans some kind of hope. But would they be willing to attach one of their young players to do it?
It makes sense for the Wizards to try and add some star power. Avdija profiles more as a high-end role player than a guy to build around, even though he did come on down the stretch this season and look like a future part of their core.
It would be tough for the Pistons to do this without knowing which player was still available at eight, as they may still be able to get a guy like Jarace Walker (unlikely) or Taylor Hendricks (more likely) while adding an emerging young wing on a rookie deal. Avdija is the type of do-it-all player who fits on any roster and would still leave Detroit plenty of cap space to upgrade.
Ranking 5 possible draft trades for the Detroit Pistons
#4: Pistons and Mavericks
This one was mentioned as a possibility by Jonathan Givony of ESPN (SUBSCRIPTION), but I have my doubts about Dallas being interested in something like this
But I will play along.
It’s hard for me to imagine that Dallas would think Bojan Bogdanovic was enough of an upgrade from Tim Hardaway Jr. to give up the 10th pick in a trade like this. Bogdanovic is considerably better offensively than Hardaway Jr. but he’s terrible defensively and would potentially give Dallas the worst perimeter defense in the NBA if the Mavs end up keeping Kyrie Irving to go along with Luka Doncic.
Hardaway Jr. isn’t great, but his contract gets smaller as it goes, and this would give the Pistons another swing at landing a star in the draft. One of these players who falls is going to end up being very good, so the Pistons could potentially add two impact draft picks.
I don’t love this trade for either team to be honest, as Detroit doesn’t really need to add two more top-10 guys. The only way it really makes sense is if Troy Weaver thought that a huge value had dropped into their laps with the 10th pick.
Ranking 5 possible draft trades for the Detroit Pistons
#3: Pacers trade up
This one was suggested by our friends at 8 Points Nine Seconds, and is of the speculative variety, but an interesting possibility for both teams.
Detroit seems to be getting the worse of this one, but it would allow the Pistons to add depth, and potentially set up future trades.
Duarte is similar to Burks and could end up being that kind of shooter. He’s only 26 and still under team control for two more seasons on a lowball contract. Nwora might also be worth a flyer, as he played well for Indiana in an increased role, averaging 13 points per game and shooting 42 percent from 3-point range.
The Pistons can likely still get one of the wings they really like with the 7th pick and would add the 29th, which would give them another asset to use in another trade. Having the 29th and 31st picks could allow them to move up into the first round of the draft and get another high-end prospect.
This wouldn’t land the Pistons a star, but could add some quality depth without breaking the bank.
Ranking 5 possible draft trades for the Detroit Pistons
#2: 3 teamer with Warriors and Mavericks
This one originally came up after a report claimed the Warriors could look to trade Jonathan Kuminga to move up in the draft.
Kuminga has flashed huge potential, but isn’t a clear fit on a roster that is trying to win titles as the Splash Brothers’ window rapidly closes.
I still find it very hard to believe that Dallas would trade the #10 pick just to get some cap relief and an upgrade to 34-year-old Bojan Bogdanovic.
This could also be seen as a lowball offer for the Warriors, as Kuminga is as young as many of this year’s top draft picks and has already played two years in the league. He’s got huge defensive upside as a versatile forward and had big games when he got minutes this past season.
But if the Warriors don’t think there is a path for him to play a big role next season, this is one way to cash out.
This would be a nice deal for the Detroit Pistons, who get a young (he’s a month older than Brandon Miller) two-way wing with defensive upside and don’t have to give up their 5th pick. They could add a guy like Cam Whitmore and have a team stacked with athleticism and defensive potential.
The Pistons would have the 19th and 31st picks to potentially add in a trade and would still have money to spend in free agency.
Ranking 5 possible draft trades for the Detroit Pistons
#1: Swinging for the fences
This one was suggested by ESPN, and is probably the most polarizing one on the list, but to me, it’s a no-brainer for the Detroit Pistons, one that could land them a superstar.
Is there risk involved? Of course. But when you are the Pistons and superstar players are hard to come by, you have to take a risk to get the big reward.
First off, I don’t think Charlotte would do this, as they aren’t getting enough for the rights to draft Scoot Henderson. The Pelicans and perhaps the Pistons, would have to add another young player to this to make it work for the Hornets. The Pelicans also have a ton of future draft picks that they could attach if the Hornets didn’t want to take on additional salary.
There are growing rumblings that New Orleans might actually trade Zion, and if so, they might be able to do better than this, though they are getting Scoot Henderson plus two players who can help them now.
As for the Detroit Pistons, I know a lot of fans would not be into this at all. Zion Williamson has not been reliable and has only played 114 games in four seasons. He will be entering the first year of a max extension starting next season. However, there are some out clauses built into it, so it’s not as big a risk as you might think, as Williamson’s contract is not fully guaranteed. He has huge motivation financially to play in as many games as possible or risk losing a big chunk of his deal.
He’s a risk, but one worth giving up this price to take, as Bojan Bogdanovic is likely to be finished in Detroit after this season, Stewart is good but ultimately a role player, and there is no one that the Pistons can take with the 5th pick who has the upside of Zion Williamson, who happens to still be 22-years-old.
His career has started similarly to Joel Embiid, who also couldn’t stay on the court, but who has figured it out and just won the MVP. Zion is that level of talent when healthy, so yes, it’s a massive risk, but if you can do it without giving up Cunningham, Ivey or Duren, it’s an absolute no brainer.
It would give Detroit two former #1 picks, which is the exact outcome they wanted when tanking for all of these years, and they would still have money left over to sign another impact player (who would also give them some Zion insurance).
If you are the Pistons, this move fills your coffers with money, as Zion is a legit draw and seat filler. It would bring huge excitement and attention to Detroit and remove the ceiling on what this young team can be.