Trading up for Yaxel Lendeborg may be worth the predicted cost for the Pistons

The Detroit Pistons would love to add a win-now player through the 2026 NBA Draft but may have to trade up to do it. 

Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg is a name that has been attached to the Pistons, as he plays a position of need for Detroit and is a hometown hero for the University of Michigan fresh off an NCAA championship. 

Lendeborg could be the heir apparent to Tobias Harris and their power forward of the future, but it won’t be cheap to acquire him depending on how far he falls in the draft. 

Most mocks have Lendeborg going in the lottery, so the Pistons would have to move up substantially to get him. 

Bryce Simon and Omari Sankofa of the Pistons Pulse predicted it would take at least a first round pick and a swap based on previous trades to move up like the one for Rob Dillingham. The Timberwolves had to give up an unprotected future pick and swap to get Dillingham with the 8th pick, and it would take at least that to move up for Lendeborg. 

It’s likely the Pistons would have to give up their 21st pick plus a future unprotected pick, which is always a risk, especially with the new draft lottery rules making the picks of the middle of the road teams more valuable. 

If the Pistons were to fall to the 10th seed in that season, for example, they’d have the same odds for the #1 pick as the worst team in the league. There would be some risk associated with moving up for Lendeborg if it’s even possible, but those risks may be worth it for Detroit. 

Detroit gets a big-game player and punts on a weaker draft 

There are some red flags for Lendeborg, namely that he’s already 24 years old, so he’s not some teenaged phenom who could blossom into a superstar. 

But that’s also a selling point for Detroit, as he’s ready to play now and has shown that he’s not afraid of the big stage. The bar for any acquisition for the Pistons should be whether the guy will wilt in the playoffs, and Lendeborg has at least shown he’s not scared of the moment. 

He’s also a very good defender already who can guard multiple positions effectively, something that is invaluable in the playoffs when teams are trying to get more scoring on the floor without sacrificing defense. 

The scoring is where Lendeborg could be a disappointment, as his 3-point shooting will have to translate for him to be effective. 

If his shooting holds up, Lendeborg could be an impact player in his rookie season the same way Dylan Harper has been for the Spurs.  

This draft is also considered to be very deep with talent, which may not be the case in future drafts, so the Pistons would be trying to maximize their pick in a good draft. If it helps them win now, no one would be thinking about the pick they had to give up. 

Given that he’s already 24, I wouldn’t go too deep into the draft assets to get him, but if the Pistons could land him for their pick and a future swap, it might be worth it. 

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