Don't look now, but the Detroit Pistons have quietly clawed their way out of the NBA's gutter and are inching their way back up to respectability. After winning a combined 31 games over the last two seasons, the Pistons have won 10 of their first 25 games, which puts them on pace to win 33 games this season.
That probably won't get them in the playoffs, but given how packed the Eastern Conference is, they have a chance to make the play-in tournament, and anything could happen then. The Minnesota Timberwolves are certainly hoping that that happens with them owning the Pistons' top 13 lottery-protected 2025 pick.
That pick was included in the Karl-Anthony Towns trade, and the draft-pick-starved Timberwolves would likely jump at a chance to have a fairly high first-round pick in the 2025 NBA draft. With the 2025 NBA draft being well regarded, it is incredibly talented and deep.
The Wolves could get a quality prospect that has upside and is cost-controlled for the first four years of their career. Given that the Wolves are one of the more expensive teams in the NBA and only have control of one of their firsts between now and 2031, that would be a big deal.
The Wolves finding ways to add young talent to an expensive roster is vital, and they were recently able to add Terrance Shannon Jr. and Rob Dillingham in the 2024 NBA draft but could hopefully soon add another.
Minnesota Timberwolves fans should be rooting for the Detroit Pistons.
Thus far, their actual haul from the Towns trade hasn't lived up to expectations: Julius Randle is having one of his more efficient seasons, but his lack of spacing has made him an awkward fit, and there are rumblings that he may not be back after this season.
Meanwhile, Donte DiVincenzo has been one of the more disappointing players in the NBA this season despite him being a player that many saw as an underrated pickup for the Wolves given his shooting and shot creation.
If they can at least get a first-round pick out of the deal, that would keep the trade from being a disappointment, and there is hope that DiVincenzo will be able to regain what made him a terrific role player in New York.
At the moment, the Wolves are starting to figure things out, especially on the defensive end, but they made the trade with the Knicks to gain flexibility. They did achieve that by breaking up Towns' contract and redistributing it between two players.
It's possible that they either trade Randle or even let him leave in free agency and continue on with Naz Reid at center. Still, the Wolves need more to show from the Towns trade, and having the Pistons pick convey would be huge for them.