Making the Case: Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons accelerated their rebuild when they landed the No. 1 overall pick last season; a selection that they used on promising young guard Cade Cunningham.
In his rookie year, Cunningham showed playmaking instincts beyond his years, the ability to score from any spot on the court, and a defensive effort uncustomary for a player of his age and pedigree.
This year, they weren’t nearly as lucky in the lottery. Despite finishing with the third-worst record in the league, they saw the Oklahoma City Thunder and Sacramento Kings jump them in the draft order, sliding them down into the No. 5 overall slot.
Still, adding another top-five prospect onto a core already consisting of Cade, Saddiq Bey, and Isaiah Stewart should make for an exciting young core and relatively quick rebuild.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Best & Worst Trade Destinations For Pistons’ Jerami Grant
Jerami Grant is a little too old and lacking in top-end talent to be a part of the Pistons’ future. Instead, they can take advantage of a reeling and desperate Trail Blazers team that’s holding onto Damian Lillard for dear life. Acquiring another top-seven pick to add to their young core should accelerate their franchise development even further.
Eric Bledsoe is included just as a salary-filler, but his nearly $20 million salary figure expires at the end of the 2022-23 season and will open a significant amount of spending money for the Pistons in free agency next summer.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Best & Worst Trade Destinations For Pistons’ Jerami Grant
Keon Johnson gives them an athletic guard prospect who was the 21st-overall selection in last year’s draft. He could make for an interesting backcourt partner for Cade or a backup for the former Oklahoma State Cowboy phenom.
