The 2024 NBA Draft will take place later this week and there are plenty of options on the table for the Detroit Pistons to consider.
They could just take the best player available in Trajan Langdon’s first draft, but there are also scenarios where the Pistons could trade back or use their cap space as leverage to take on assets.
Langdon hinted this route was a possibility during his press conference when he talked about taking on a contract in exchange for something in return.
Given that context, here are 10 possible draft scenarios for the Detroit Pistons, including some monster trades.
#10: Detroit Pistons trade the 53rd to the New York Knicks for Mitchell Robinson and the 24th pick
The Knicks would like to re-sign Isaiah Hartenstein, which will be difficult if Mitchell Robinson is still on the books.
In exchange for taking on the two years left on Robinson’s deal, Detroit will net up an extra pick in the first round. The Knicks have both the 24th and 25th picks and need the cap space more than they need a late first-round pick.
It would be better if the Pistons could get their own pick back from the Knicks, thus getting that restriction off their back, but that may be too much to give up just to jettison Robinson.
Robinson is the veteran shot blocker Detroit needs, and given that they already have Jalen Duren, he wouldn’t have to play big minutes, which gives him a chance to stay healthy.
The Knicks may be reluctant to do this without something coming back, but if they want to clear cap space, they need to pay to do it. Detroit has all of the leverage here as the team with the money. Detroit could potentially add Marcus Sasser to this deal instead of the pick.
#9: The Detroit Pistons draft Donovan Clingan
There’s no telling if Clingan will even be there when the Pistons pick, as everyone ahead of them has been attached to the rim-protecting center at some point, including Atlanta with the #1 pick.
Langdon has shown a preference for defensive-minded players in the draft, so Clingan makes sense as his first pick to be the anchor of the Pistons’ defense for years to come.
This pick would be a sign that he is not completely sold on Jalen Duren or sees him as better served in a platoon with a rim protector.
Langdon doesn’t want to take shortcuts, so if they make this pick, I expect him to take the best player, not the best fit. If he thinks that player is Clingan, he’ll be the guy.
Given that Clingan is reportedly coveted by other teams, him falling to Detroit could open up other options.
#8: Detroit Pistons trade back with one of the teams that wants Donovan Clingan
If Clingan is there at five and the Pistons aren’t interested in drafting him, then they should use his popularity to get an asset by trading back.
There are several teams, including Memphis and Chicago, that have made it clear they are interested in Clingan and could trade up to get him. The Pistons could potentially swap picks with one of these teams and get an asset for their troubles.
The Pistons may be able to trade back, grab an asset and still draft the player they want, which would be a great scenario for Detroit.
The same could apply if one of Zaccharie Risacher, Alex Sarr or Reed Sheppard happen to fall out of the top four, which you can’t rule out in this draft.
#7: Detroit Pistons select Matas Buzelis
This would be the least exciting outcome only because it’s the one that most people are predicting.
The majority of mock drafts have the Pistons taking Buzelis, which does make sense as a high-upside jumbo wing who can already play defense but needs to develop a shot.
But Buzelis doesn’t exactly fit the profile of a Langdon guy, so my gut tells me he will not be the choice. I’ve had several readers tell me it will be Buzelis because of his connection to Arn Tellem’s son (his agent) but I can guarantee that if the Pistons take him, it’s because they think he’s the guy.
What benefit would there be to Detroit? Also, Buzelis is likely to go in the top 10, so it’s not like he needs a favor from the Pistons. His agent gets paid either way, so this conspiracy theory makes no sense.
I get that Arn Tellem has become the emperor/boogieman for this team but some of this stuff is just absurd.
#6: Detroit Pistons trade the 5th pick to Utah Jazz for the 10th, 29th and 32nd picks
In a normal draft, this would likely be the price for Utah to move up five spots, but in this one, I am not sure they would give up two extra picks to do so.
On the other hand, Utah doesn’t have room for three more draft picks, so packaging them to move up and take the guy they want in the top five may not be out of the question.
Would this be worth it for Detroit? They’d get two extra shots to find an impact player and Trajan Langdon has had plenty of success finding gems in the second round, just ask All-Defensive wing Herb Jones.
The Pistons could potentially use those picks to make another trade themselves or just take three rolls of the dice instead of one.
If they could trade back to 10, take a guy like Cody Williams and then try to find value later in the first round, that might not be a terrible scenario for Detroit, though they would again be a very young team.
#5: Detroit Pistons draft Devin Carter
At first glance this might seem like a big reach to take a guard with the 5th pick, especially when many mock drafts have Carter falling out of the lottery.
But there is buzz around him and if I had to guess, I’d bet he is a player who is drafted much higher than people expect.
In a very unknown draft, he is one of the surest things, as he’s a tenacious perimeter defender and very good 3-point shooter and those qualities will translate right away.
Carter can do a bit of everything, as he averaged over eight rebounds per game, outstanding for a guard. He also averaged just under three combined steals and blocks per game, again, very good numbers.
And he would be a great fit with Cade Cunningham, as Carter will be a high-impact defender on the perimeter right away. Even though he is only 6-foot-3, he has a 6-foot-8 wingspan and 42-inch vertical that will allow him to play bigger than his height would indicate.
If the Pistons really did fancy Carter, trading back would be the most likely option, but don’t be surprised if Carter goes in the top 10.
#4: Detroit Pistons trade Isaiah Stewart to the Chicago Bulls for Zach LaVine and the 11th pick
The Bulls are desperate to get off LaVine’s contract but have not been able to create much of a market for him.
I’m not a huge fan of LaVine, who has never been a winning player and has been hurt a lot, so if the Pistons are going to eat the three years of his contract that no one wants, they need an asset to do it.
I wouldn’t take on LaVine unless the 11th pick were attached and I’m also not sure about sending them Stewart, though the Pistons are reportedly evaluating the market for him.
Could Detroit send them Sasser instead? I wouldn’t touch LaVine’s contract unless there were a good asset attached and definitely wouldn’t send the Bulls one to get him.
#3: Detroit Pistons draft Cody Williams
I’m increasingly intrigued by this possibility, as Williams fits the prototype of the modern two-way wing that all teams are looking for.
I like the fact that he has NBA DNA and great size for the position. I love the fact that he was very efficient around the rim and from the 3-point line, even though he didn’t shoot many from behind the arc.
I love his defensive potential.
Williams is another guy who has been mocked later in the lottery, but a lot of these mock drafts are going to be wrong, as Williams is a guy I would bet ends up drafted in the top 10.
I would say similar things about Ron Holland, another wing with two-way potential, great athleticism and size.
The final two scenarios involve huge trades.
#2: Detroit Pistons trade Marcus Sasser to the Portland Trail Blazers for Jerami Grant and the 14th pick
Portland won just seven more games than the lowly Pistons this season. The difference is that the Trail Blazers have an expensive roster that is in the luxury tax, not a great place to be for a team that won 21 games.
They need to rebuild and cut payroll, so the Pistons could swoop in with their cap space and take on one of their less desirable contracts. This is where the Pistons have to play hardball and force Portland to give up an asset if they want off Grant’s contract.
Grant is still a good player, but he’s slightly overpaid and has a lot of years left on that deal, so Detroit shouldn’t take it unless they are getting something in return, in this case, the 14th pick.
Portland would still have the 7th pick, a developmental player in Sasser and now a bunch of cap space.
#1: A 3-way trade between the Detroit Pistons, LA Clippers and Golden State Warriors
The Warriors are among several teams who would love to land Paul George but have no chance to do it unless they can shed contracts.
If the Pistons are going to loan them the cap space to do it, they need to get something in return, same for the Clippers, who are giving up the best player but have no leverage since he can just leave.
Would this trade work for all three teams?
In exchange for taking on Wiggins’ three years, the Pistons get a 1st-round pick from the Warriors in a much better draft. The Clippers at least get something for George (who can just leave in free agency so this would need to be a sign-and-trade or he’d have to opt in and work a new deal with Golden State) in the form of Chris Paul and four second round picks.
The Warriors get a player to max Curry’s window and make a run at another title in the next few seasons. The Pistons get a wing who needs a new home and much-needed draft assets. The Clippers get a veteran point guard they want anyway and some future draft capital. Who says no?