Why Detroit Pistons may be better off trading fifth pick in lackluster NBA draft class
CHICAGO — Hearts dropped and dreams were crushed when the Detroit Pistons were knocked out of the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes in last year’s NBA draft lottery. This past Sunday’s fall to fifth, in comparison, was more akin to a sigh.
Drafting first overall is better than not, of course. But in a draft that some around the league have compared to 2013’s — a scattershot class with only one All-Star player (Victor Oladipo) taken within the lottery — the difference in value between the second and fifth overall picks may be negligible.
Draft boards vary widely between NBA teams, who are seeing prospects up close during the NBA draft combine in Chicago this week. That’s good news for a Pistons team that may trade out of the draft altogether.
Detroit’s incoming head of basketball operations, whoever it ends up being, could potentially still have their top prospect available at No. 5. That’s true for other teams as well, making the trade value of the pick more pertinent for the Pistons, whom many believe may be looking for a veteran who can help them win now.
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Though much will change between now and the late-June draft, what won't change anytime soon is the stench of a franchise-worst 14-68 season. The direction of the Pistons will ultimately be up to the new person in charge, but the sense is that ownership doesn’t want to risk a repeat of last season.
The Pistons aren’t aiming to get younger this summer. Based on talks with those within the organization, they want to get better. And trading the pick could be their most efficient path toward accomplishing that goal.
While there’s no clear-cut elite talent in this draft, there are still prospects who are coveted. UConn big man Donovan Clingan, considered by many as the best rim protector in the class, could still be available at No. 5. Reed Sheppard, Zaccharie Risacher and Nikola Topic all have fan clubs and are within Detroit’s range.
The trade market is a likely route for roster improvement for a Pistons team with roughly $64 million in salary cap space available this summer, tops in the NBA. It’s a weak free agency class, but Detroit historically hasn’t been a destination for the top talents on the market regardless. Nic Claxton and Tobias Harris are among the free agents who would address immediate needs. Beyond them, the Pistons will have to look at other rosters for help.
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The fifth pick is one of Detroit’s best trade assets, considering it’s the only first-rounder they can trade before 2028 due to the NBA’s Stepien rule (the Pistons still owe a protected first-round pick to the New York Knicks). In addition to the fifth pick, they also could include one or more players from their young core to sweeten any deals.
Since hiring Troy Weaver in 2020, the Pistons have made eight first-round draft selections — Killian Hayes, Saddiq Bey, Isaiah Stewart, Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Jalen Duren, Ausar Thompson and Marcus Sasser. As their core has grown, their win-loss record has declined.
This offseason will bring about a turning of the page after new head of basketball operations is hired. That person will sit atop the hierarchy, above Weaver, and become the defacto new face of the team’s rebuild.
Trading the fifth pick would add more credence to the Pistons looking to accelerate a process that has stagnated.
Pistons’ search for new front office leader continues
This has felt like the first official week of the offseason for the Pistons. Sunday revealed their fate in the draft, and their head of basketball operations vacancy has been a topic among agents and other front office executives at the Marriott Marquis and Wintrust Arena in Chicago, home of the NBA combine.
Two names have come up frequently — New Orleans Pelicans general manager Trajan Langdon and Dallas Mavericks advisor Dennis Lindsey. Minnesota Timberwolves president Tim Connelly, Chicago Bulls GM Marc Eversley and former New York Knicks general manager Scott Perry have also been connected to Detroit.
The Athletic reported on Monday that Connelly is likely to opt out of his contract with Minnesota — currently trailing the Denver Nuggets, 3-2, in the Western Conference semifinals — this summer. He appears to be high on Detroit’s candidate list, and they have awaited their chance to request an interview with him as the Wolves continue their playoff run.
But the clock may run out on Connelly, as one source suggested the Pistons could conclude their head of basketball operations search within the next week or so.
Langdon is a former NBA player who had a stint overseas before joining the San Antonio Spurs as a scout in 2012. He was named assistant GM of the Brooklyn Nets in 2016 before joining the Pelicans in 2019. Lindsey was hired as general manager of the Utah Jazz in 2012 and was promoted to executive vice president of basketball operations in 2019 before stepping down in 2021.
Eversley has been with the Bulls since 2020, and previously had various front office roles with the Philadelphia 76ers, Washington Wizards and Toronto Raptors. Perry, a U-D Jesuit alumnus, was GM of the Knicks from 2017 until the end of last season.
Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him @omarisankofa.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Why Detroit Pistons may be better off trading pick in 2024 NBA draft
