It only needed to be a top-3 pick.
The Pistons, the league’s worst team, weren’t asking for much. Would they have loved to receive the No. 1 pick in Tuesday night’s NBA draft lottery and the rights to Victor Wembanyama? Of course. That was the dream. But the organization that just endured a 17-win season with its franchise player watching from the sideline would have welcomed Scoot Henderson or Brandon Miller with open arms. Just top 3. That’s all they wanted.
Instead, the basketball gods handed the NBA’s worst team the worst possible outcome: the No. 5 pick in next month’s draft. Calling it a gut punch would be putting it nicely. The result was more like a sword splitting through a bicep. Detroit didn’t have aspirations of realistically picking this high again anytime soon. This was the year to have the best odds at No. 1. It went from so close to so far in a matter of seconds.
The life of a rebuilding team.
Now, the Pistons must shift their focus on what to do with the No. 5 pick. General manager Troy Weaver talked to reporters after the lottery on Tuesday night and said there are players he likes in that range. He also said the franchise wouldn’t be opposed to trading the pick “if it’s going to help us move forward, we’ll entertain anything. We’re excited about this draft pool, but we’ll try to move the team forward any way we can.”
Here, we’re going to try and get a grasp of what the fifth pick in this particular draft might be able to land Detroit in a trade. To do that, I proposed trades to my fellow beat writers here at The Athletic who cover teams that I believe would entertain a conversation for the fifth pick and other stuff the Pistons can offer. Admittedly, some trade offers weren’t very good. The goal, though, was to help you, the fan, understand what is and isn’t possible. Some trades were good and considered by the beat writers.
Let’s get into it.
San Antonio Spurs
Pistons receive: Keldon Johnson and a 2024 first-round pick (via Toronto)
Spurs receive: The No. 5 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft
James L. Edwards III: My logic here was pretty simple: Johnson fills a void for the Pistons as a solid offensive wing who can be effective without the ball. His defense can be better, and I think it could be in a more winning situation. He’ll only be 24 when next season starts and, in my opinion, is on a valuable contract (4 years/$74 million). His annual salary decreases in the deal’s first three years, which starts next season. The Pistons also get a future first because I don’t believe Johnson alone is worth the No. 5 pick in this draft.
Why would the Spurs do this, you ask? Well, San Antonio could use the No. 5 pick to get a different wing or forward who, like future Spur Wembanyama, will be on a rookie deal for the next few seasons. It’ll open up even more cap space for San Antonio this summer, as well. I just don’t see Johnson with the Spurs by the time they’re truly contenders again, so I could see a deal like this benefitting both sides. Cam Whitmore or Amen Thompson would be fun alongside Wembanyama, no?
Alex Schiffer: “This trade really comes down to the Spurs timeline and how they want to go about their rebuild, but moving Johnson for the pick allows them to get another young player to align both time- and contract-wise with Wembamyama, while the Pistons get a player ready to help them move up in the standings. There’s a case for the Spurs to keep Johnson, too, as he’s come up through Pop’s system and has room to grow as a player. He could stay and continue to be part of the young core in San Antonio.”
Verdict from the opposing beat: “Solid offer”
New York Knicks
Pistons receive: RJ Barrett, Evan Fournier and a 2024 first-round pick
Knicks receive: Bojan Bogdanović, James Wiseman and No. 5 pick in 2023
Edwards: The prize here is Barrett, who just had a really good postseason for the Knicks. Defensively, he fits everything the Pistons are about and missing. Offensively, the shooting is up and down, but he impacts the game in other ways. I really like the idea of Barrett as a secondary or tertiary ballhandler next to Cunningham and Ivey. I like it even more if the shooting stays up. I’d take on Fournier’s deal in order to get Barrett, but I’d need future draft compensation as well.
Fred Katz (Knicks beat writer): “It would depend on the protections for the 2024 pick, but I think the Knicks would have to consider jumping on this. Bogdanović gives them more shooting, something they desperately need in the short term and is an intuitive fit next to Jalen Brunson as well as Julius Randle. And, most importantly, the fifth pick in a stacked draft would allow them to string along their young talent for even longer. I’m sure the Knicks would not feel great about parting with RJ Barrett after a strong postseason for the 22-year-old, but this is a big haul in return. They’re definitely listening to this.”
Verdict on the beat: “You should be an assistant GM!”
Toronto Raptors
Pistons receive: Pascal Siakam
Raptors receive: Alec Burks, Bojan Bogdanović, James Wiseman and No. 5 pick in 2023
Edwards: Given Toronto’s likeliness of restructuring its roster, Siakam’s expiring deal and the Pistons’ increased likeliness of seeking some type of needle-mover, the All-NBA selection is the best possible player I think Detroit could realistically get with the fifth pick. Of course, it comes attached with other stuff, like two really good role players in Burks and Bogdanović, and a project in Wiseman. This one is pretty straightforward. I was trying to get Detroit one of the best 25 players in the NBA. Siakam, to me, is the only one who could make some sense.
The Pistons, though, would have to be confident it could sign Siakam longterm to make this move. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent after this season.
Eric Koreen (Raptors beat writer): “That is certainly the type of trade the Raptors would be looking at, if they indeed want to move Siakam. The problems are twofold. First: Even if the Raptors like Wiseman, they are set at centre, assuming they bring back Jakob Poeltl, which I expect they will, and with Christian Koloko as his backup. Secondly: The Pistons fell to five. Scoot Henderson or Brandon Miller would be the clean lottery fits for the Raptors. The Thompson twins, Cam Whitmore, Anthony Black? There is at least some overlap with Scottie Barnes, and questions about their shooting, which the Raptors cannot really handle next to Barnes and Poeltl. In short: Something like this is a possibility, but I think the Raptors try to engage Portland first.”
Verdict from the opposing beat: “Solid offer”
New Orleans Pelicans
Pistons receive: Herb Jones, No. 14 pick in 2023, Garrett Temple and Larry Nance Jr.
Pelicans receive: Bojan Bogdanović and No. 5 pick in 2023
Edwards: Again, I’m searching here. I’m a big Jones fan. At 24 years old, he might already be one of the best 10 perimeter defenders in the NBA. The Pistons need that, particularly on the wing. The 3-point shooting could be better but the defense and other stuff he does on offense outweighs that for me. I’d prefer to have Trey Murphy III, but I wasn’t even going to offend Will by trying to get him. New Orleans could use a shooter like Bogdanović. It also could use the No. 5 pick to get Cam Whitmore and try to juice an iffy Zion-less offense. Temple and Nance are salary throw-ins, though the latter could contribute in the rotation.
Will Guillroy (Pelicans beat writer): “Adding the No. 5 pick and an elite shooter like Bogdanović would be a great way for the Pelicans to spice up an offense that struggled at times last season. However, they put a tremendous amount of value in Herb Jones and what he brings as one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA. I would be shocked to see him moved this summer. Maybe they’d be more interested if there was a clear option at No. 5 to target. Guys like Cam Whitmore or one of the Thompson twins wouldn’t make as much sense with this team as keeping Jones around.”
Verdict from the opposing beat: “Solid offer but probably not”
Portland Trailblazers
Pistons receive: No. 3 pick in 2023 and Keon Johnson
Blazers receive: Bojan Bogdanović, No. 5 pick in 2023 and No. 31 pick in 2023
Edwards: This isn’t a trade proposal that I’m proud of, primarily because I figured it wouldn’t be enough, but I tried to get Detroit into the top 3 in order to get Miller or Henderson. Portland has made it clear that it’s interested in contending as long as Dame Lillard is on the roster, so I offered one of the best shooters in the NBA. The Blazers would only have to move back two spots and still get an elite shooter! They could use the No. 5 pick to add another veteran. That was my logic. Jason Quick hated it.
Jason Quick (Trailblazers beat writer): “Would Blazers do the deal: No. Hell no. It’s no secret the Blazers are open to trading the third pick, but they likely – and should – have much higher aspirations for a return than this. The only advantage here is his gaining a 34-year-old shooter, but the Blazers are flush with guys who can put the ball through the net. The Blazers need defense, size, switch-ability, and this ain’t it.”
Verdict from the opposing beat: “Why did you waste my time?”
Houston Rockets
Pistons receive: Jabari Smith
Rockets receive: No. 5 pick in 2023 and James Wiseman
Edwards: I probably tried to get too cute with this one, but I gave it a shot. All signs are pointing to the Rockets really going for it next season and making a big move or two. Smith, who I liked in last year’s draft, didn’t have a great rookie season. Maybe Houston would want to punt on him and use the No. 4 and No. 5 picks to go and try to get a big fish?
Kelly Iko (Rockets beat writer): “Adding another top-10 pick might have appealed to Houston’s brass in 2021 or 2022, but at this juncture, James Wiseman isn’t interesting enough to warrant punting on Jabari Smith Jr after his rookie season — especially given how he picked up momentum over the last 20 games of the year. The Rockets are trying to speed up the rebuilding process by acquiring win-now veterans to complement their young core, a core that includes Smith. Ditching a talented two-way forward with extreme upside for Wiseman and the No. 5 pick in this draft doesn’t seem like the way to go for the franchise. They have a higher pick and can sign better bigs than Wiseman in free agency. This would essentially be working backwards.”
Verdict from the opposing beat: “Are you feeling OK?”
GO DEEPER
Pistons will select fifth in 2023 NBA Draft. Who will they pick? Will they trade?
(Top photo of Troy Weaver: Kyle Terada / USA TODAY Sports)
Trade proposals for the Pistons’ fifth pick in the 2023 NBA Draft - The Athletic
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