Detroit Pistons Draft Pick May Be Best Used in a Trade
By Zac Snyder
The Detroit Pistons hold the 18th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, but with an already young roster, that pick might be better used in a trade.
Slated to pick 18th in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft, the Detroit Pistons could go in a number of directions. Of primary concern is adding a point guard to back up Reggie Jackson and improving the team’s shooting from three point range.
The Pistons’ first round pick could help fill that need but it might not be through drafting a player. With an already young roster, adding another young player with a mid-first round pick may not be the best next step as the Pistons look to become major players in the Eastern Conference. A trade could be in order.
Remember, the Pistons have tried to trade this draft pick once before. Their first round pick was on its way to the Houston Rockets until a trade was voided over back injury concerns for Donatas Motiejunas.
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Even if Stan Van Gundy again decides to use the pick as a bargaining chip, he may not find the right opportunity to execute a trade.
The Pistons could find themselves competing with the Utah Jazz on the trade market. ESPN’s Zach Lowe reports the Jazz, who hold the 12th overall pick, are expected to dangle their pick in hopes of landing a veteran point guard or wing player.
"For the second straight year, rival execs expect Utah to quietly gauge the market for its lottery pick in search of veteran help at point guard or on the wing."
Teams inclined to deal a player for a pick will obviously be more tempted by the pick the Jazz have to offer than the Pistons’ pick.
Futher complicating matters on the trade market is the steep rise in the salary cap that is just beginning. With the cap exploding, fewer teams will be looking to make the kind of cap-clearing deals the Pistons benefitted from since Van Gundy took over, such as the trade with the Phoenix Suns that brought them Marcus Morris.
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Van Gundy and general manager Jeff Bower have done a masterful job using trades to reshape the Pistons roster from one of the league’s most dysfunctional to a playoff team in just two seasons. Expect that they will continue to use that avenue as opportunities present themselves, but don’t be surprised if the trade market looks bare this offseason.