The Detroit Pistons have control of the top pick in the 2021 NBA draft, and the prohibitive favorite to go first overall is Cade Cunningham. As time goes on, it’s important to remember that Cunningham will be selected first, but the Pistons may not end up being the team that makes that pick.
If the Pistons do trade this valuable pick, it’s going to take a massive haul in return. That will likely come in the form of a combination of top picks in this draft or lightly/unprotected picks in future drafts, and young players with upside. It’ll be a deal of massive proportion if a team is to actually sway the Pistons to make a trade.
The Detroit Pistons control the first pick in the 2021 NBA draft, and other teams are looking to make a deal. What could a Godfather trade offer entail?
According to ESPN’s Jonathon Givony, a number of teams have reached out to the Pistons and general manager Troy Weaver about the availability of the pick. Those teams include the Cleveland Cavaliers, the New Orleans Pelicans, the Houston Rockets and Weaver’s previous team, the OKC Thunder.
Over the next couple of pages, we’ll take a look at what each of these teams has available of value that fits these criteria, and why the Pistons may opt to make a deal (even if it’s unlikely!). If the Pistons do like a player like Jalen Green more than Cunningham, dropping down may just be the move.