5. Detroit Pistons
The Phoenix Suns and Philadelphia 76ers could very well be candidates to trade down in the draft, but with so many talented players to use their top-four selections on, the No. 5 spot on this list goes to a team that’s already reportedly looking to trade its first round selection.
According to ESPN‘s Marc Stein, the Detroit Pistons are open for business at No. 12 if they can land a veteran to help Stan Van Gundy’s squad get back on the playoff track.
NBA Draft scuttle: Hearing Detroit is open to discussing trades for its No. 12 overall pick in hopes of acquiring more of a win-now veteran.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) May 30, 2017
After a disappointing 2016-17 campaign (not to mention a disappointing three years under SVG in general), the Pistons won’t be able to shoot for the moon with their late lottery pick, especially since a veteran’s salary would put a heavier strain on the team’s salary cap situation with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope‘s restricted free agency to account for.
To be perfectly honest, with Andre Drummond and KCP looking like the closest thing this team has to “franchise players,” Detroit would probably be better off using the No. 12 pick on a young piece in a talented draft class.
However, with so much money committed to Drummond, Reggie Jackson, Tobias Harris, Jon Leuer, Boban Marjanovic, Marcus Morris and (soon) KCP, the Pistons have little chance of unloading all those contracts to start over. The No. 12 pick does little to fix their short-term outlook, and a core with that pick and Stanley Johnson doesn’t exactly provide hope for the long-term future. Trading the pick makes sense on some levels.