Detroit Pistons Receive: G Eric Bledsoe, NOP 2021 1st Round Pick (Pick #10), CLE 2021 2nd Round Pick (Pick #35), NOP 2022 1st Round Pick (Unprotected), NOP 2024 1st Round Pick (Unprotected)
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: G Rodney McGruder, DET 2021 1st Round Pick (Pick #1)
The Rockets and Thunder seem like the two logical teams for Detroit to strike a deal with if they were to try and move out of the #1 spot in the 2021 NBA Draft, but the New Orleans Pelicans are definitely an interesting team to keep an eye on.
With Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, the Pelicans have two young, All-Star talents, but this team is still a far ways away from being a threat in the Western Conference.
The Pelicans need more young talents that can help them sustain success moving forward, which is why they would be highly interested in trading up for Cade Cunningham, especially with Lonzo Ball being a restricted free agent.
There is a slim possibility that the Pistons could get the Pelicans to offer up Brandon Ingram for the #1 overall pick, but in this deal, Detroit would be getting the 10th overall pick, the 35th pick, two future first-round picks and a veteran guard in Eric Bledsoe.
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Acquiring Bledsoe does not sound that ideal for the Pistons, but he is only owed $37.5M over the next two seasons and his contract is partially-guaranteed for the 2022-23 season, meaning Detroit could waive him for a small price.
Assuming they would be drafting Cade Cunningham first overall anyways, bringing in Bledsoe gives the Pistons an experienced guard who can help contribute right away and has been a solid product throughout his career.
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He is definitely not as talented as Cunningham and does not have the potential that the young guard has, but Bledsoe is more than capable of being an experienced presence for this young team over the next year or two.
Pretty much, this trade would be a way for the Pelicans to dump Bledsoe’s contract while gaining the 1st overall pick at the expense of three first-round picks and a second-round pick. This could be enough value for the Pistons to take back, but moving down to the 10th overall pick could be too far for them to move back.
