2018 NBA Draft: 3 reasons the Detroit Pistons should trade into the first round
By Amaar Burton
3. To get an immediate impact player
Before anyone gets too excited, keep in mind that if the Pistons did trade up into the first round, it most likely would not be into the top 10 or even in the lottery.
This is a deep and talented draft class, and the consensus 10 best players all have real star potential: Deandre Ayton, Marvin Bagley III, Luka Doncic, Jaren Jackson Jr., Michael Porter Jr., Trae Young, Mohamed Bamba, Wendell Carter Jr., Collin Sexton and Mikal Bridges, along with a few others outside the top 10.
The teams holding those picks are not going to give them up for any package of future picks or current players that the Pistons can or would realistically offer.
So if we assume that any pick Detroit acquires in a trade would be late-lottery at best — somewhere between 13th and 30th — which players in that range can help the team’s existing needs?
Names to consider would be Kentucky point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Michigan State small forward Miles Bridges, Texas Tech combo guard Zhaire Smith, Miami shooting guard Lonnie Walker IV, Villanova shooting guard Donte DiVincenzo, Oregon combo guard Troy Brown and center Mitchell Robinson, among others.