2018 NBA Draft: 3 prospects with close ties to the Detroit Pistons
By Amaar Burton
The Detroit Pistons own the No. 42 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. Two players that could be on their radar have existing ties to the franchise, while another top prospect is already part of the Pistons’ extended family.
Nepotism is real in the NBA.
Detroit Pistons fans should be familiar with it; at least those who are old enough to remember Chauncey Billups‘ younger brother Rodney managing to secure a spot on the Pistons’ NBA Summer League team for years. Rodney coincidentally moved over to Denver’s Summer League squad around the same time his big brother was traded to the Nuggets.
Keeping it in the family and/or among friends is a concept no different in pro sports than in any other industry, where the old adage still applies: It’s not always what you know, but who you know.
In the upcoming 2018 NBA Draft, the Pistons have the No. 42 overall pick, and two of the players that could be available have ties to the franchise that may work in their favor. There’s also one top prospect in this draft class who — while too good for the Pistons to have a shot at landing — is actually part of Detroit’s extended family.