The Detroit Pistons were the big winners in the NBA draft lottery, winning the rights to the first overall selection. They picked a great draft to get this result with an elite top four or five possible selections, headlined by Cade Cunningham at the top of the class.
Detroit has more options at its disposal this offseason than it did last year, hamstrung by Blake Griffin’s monstrosity of a contract. Even with next to no flexibility, general manager Troy Weaver turned over almost the entire roster before the first game of the season was played and added two first-round picks in the draft. The sky is the limit with what he might be able to do this season.
The Detroit Pistons won the NBA draft lottery and are in a power position. Here are three bold predictions about what to expect in the offseason.
While Weaver revamped the roster with next to no room for maneuvering, he’s indicated that internal development will be next season’s method of improvement. Of course, this was before the Pistons won the lottery and became the NBA’s biggest power player, so things may change swiftly.
With that top pick, the Pistons wield significant power and Weaver’s mad-genius empty-clip approach to the NBA draft could open up a world of literally unthinkable possibilities. Or, maybe they just draft Cade Cunningham and he turns into the star he projects as. Either way, the Detroit Pistons are in the best place they’ve been for decades.
Let’s take a look at three bold predictions you can take to the bank for the Pistons draft and offseason.
Bold Pistons predictions for the NBA draft and offseason: 1. They’re drafting Cade Cunnigham
This shouldn’t be controversial, but in an age where social media amplification can make large swaths of people question whether rain is wet, Cade Cunningham’s destination in the NBA draft has been thrown into question.
Some of this is due to the Pistons doing due diligence and building smokescreens, some of it is due to national writers desperate to cash in on the necessary ambiguity coming from the front office. Plenty of it is a result of fans not knowing what to expect but until the moment the Pistons actually make the pick, don’t expect any hand-holding from Weaver and company.
On the plus side, you shouldn’t need your hand to be held anyway. The Pistons are coming off a 20-52 season, their current starting point guard Killian Hayes would function beautifully alongside Cunningham playing off the ball, and they have an opportunity to draft the clear best player in this class.
You don’t need to overthink this one, because the Pistons won’t be. Don’t mistake due diligence on the team’s part for deviation from the expected.
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.
Bold Pistons predictions for the NBA draft and offseason: 1. Jerami Grant isn’t going anywhere
The Pistons found themselves a true gem in Jerami Grant last offseason. They signed him to a three-year, $60 million deal; the same contract his previous team, the Denver Nuggets, offered him.
Grant had the opportunity to be the third-best player on the defending Western Conference Finalist Nuggets, alongside Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, or being the first building block in the Detroit Pistons rebuilding project. Being that cornerstone (Athletic paywall), on a team with a Black general manager in Weaver and a Black head coach in Dwane Casey, was an appealing proposition and Detroit was his ultimate choice.
Given the opportunity to flourish as the No. 1 option, he did indeed take advantage. After a spectacular start to the season, the load weighed on him and he wore down after proven NBA teammates like Derrick Rose and Blake Griffin parted ways with the team.
Grant is probably less of a true lead-dog and more of a collaborative star (if either of those are even really things), and his life is about to get a whole lot easier with a certain Cade Cunningham soon coming. Both he and the organization have to be absolutely delighted with the direction of the franchise, even if they didn’t win the lottery. Having done so is just a major bonus for all parties.