The Pistons made a bold decision to add another creator in the draft through Ebuka Okorie, but passed on Cameron Carr in the process. Carr was touted as the best 3-and-D prospect in the draft and fell all the way to the Lakers, where he'll be an ideal fit next to Luka Doncic. Carr could have also fit that role well for the Pistons, but instead LA gets their potential missing piece.
The Pistons helped the Lakers more than they realize
Carr generated a lot of buzz heading into the draft, with some projections even slotting him into the late lottery. However, he fell all the way to the 24th pick and now finds himself on a team loaded with star talent but needing role players to fill out the lineup. That's where Carr can shine the brightest with his supporting skillset.
Detroit ultimately chose to aim higher in the draft for a prospect with more potential as a creator but not the same shooting and defense as Carr. To address their shooting flaws, the Pistons pivoted towards a trade for Isaiah Joe that could have even more immediate impact than drafting Carr. That was a great trade either way, but the Pistons could end up regeretting their decision to pass on Carr if Okorie doesn't work out.
The Pistons weren't the only team to pass on Carr between picks 17 (where Okorie was taken) and 24, but they were arguably the one that could benefit the most from Carr's addition. In many ways, Carr's game is reminiscent of Trey Murphy III, who has long been rumored as a trade target for the Pistons. Carr even has the same explosive athleticism as Murphy that shows up when he attacks a closeout or catches an alley-oop off a backdoor cut.
The Lakers and Pistons will often compete for the same players
In coming years, the Pistons can expect to find themselves at odds with the Lakers frequently over the same draft prospects, trade targets and free agents. Both teams are built around an oversized offensive engine - Doncic for the Lakers and Cade Cunningham for the Pistons - with similar strengths and weaknesses. As a result, there could be a lot of overlap in their player wishlist.
Even as the Pistons try to make other moves for improving their roster this season, they might encounter the Lakers as adversaries again. Both teams already expressed interest in each other's restricted free agents - the Pistons with Austin Reaves and the Lakers with Jalen Duren. But so far no big shakeups have happened between the two squads.
Cameron Carr could be the first domino that helps the Lakers compete for a championship very soon if he lives up to his draft hype. In their own way, the Pistons had a hand in getting him to LA.
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