Detroit Pistons: 3 major takeaways from NBA draft night
By Matthew Way
NBA draft takeaway No. 3 – The youth movement is here
At first glance, it might seem strange to trade away young rotation players like Luke Kennard and Bruce Brown on rookie contracts for a team that is in obvious need of a rebuild. But when you look closer at their contracts, it begins to make sense.
Both Kennard and Brown are due to become free agents next offseason and should command more money than might make sense for a team whose future looks much further into the distance. Moving them simplifies next year’s decision making while opening up minutes for younger players who are more likely to be a part of Detroit’s core moving forward.
So, Troy Weaver drafted two 19-year-olds in Killian Hayes and Isaiah Stewart while acquiring three 21 year-olds in Dzanan Musa, Saddiq Bey, and Saben Lee. Those five prospects better fit the same timeline as young Sekou Doumbaya while giving the Pistons extra years of cost-controlled contracts.
The development of these young players very well may be a long and winding road. But it’s one that has a clear direction and upside as opposed to the consistent futility of fighting for the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference.
And the added benefit of getting super young and raw is that Detroit will likely end up with a couple more chances at a high draft pick in the next two years, which project to be very strong classes.
It may not be The Process, but it’s headed towards a similar trajectory.