Pistons: 3 bold predictions for the NBA draft and offseason

Bold Pistons predictions for the NBA draft and offseason: 2. The Pistons will make more than one first-round selection

Troy Weaver takes aggression to a new level as general manager. After the 2020 NBA draft, which he entered the first round holding the seventh pick only but finished with also the 16th and 19th picks, he told Detroit media about this strategy:

"“We’re going to attack the draft, we’re going to attack free agency, we’re going to attack everything.”"

He left no doubt about his intention and continued to make aggressive moves throughout the season, including trading Derrick Rose to the New York Knicks for Dennis Smith Jr. and a second-round pick, trading Delon Wright to the Sacramento Kings for Cory Joseph and two second-round picks, and buying out Blake Griffin, saving $9 million worth of 2021-22 salary.

With more resources and flexibility at their disposal, the Pistons have to be considered heavy favorites to find a way to add more first-round picks. In this draft alone, they have three second-round picks; the 37th, 42nd and 52nd picks. It wouldn’t be unreasonable to package one or more of those along with, say, Josh Jackson in order to add another first-round pick.

For that matter, Sekou Doumbouya is the final holdover from the pre-Weaver era. The fact that he’s still on the roster considering the complete turnover elsewhere on the team could actually be seen as an endorsement to keep him around, but it’s certainly not written in stone.

If Weaver has the opportunity to add a high-value pick, Doumbouya or Jackson or a handful of other players could find themselves on the move.