We are just a handful of days away from the 2025 NBA Draft, and, as of this writing, the Detroit Pistons do not own a first-round pick after their selection was sent to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Minnesota owns this pick following a prior deal Detroit swung with the Houston Rockets to add Isaiah Stewart to the fold. As a result, the Pistons will not find themselves on the clock until the No. 37 overall pick is made on June 26.
However, it wouldn't be surprising to see Trajan Langdon and Detroit's brain trust in the front office attempt to move back into the first round via a trade, and there should be ample opportunity to do just that over the next week.
Detroit Pistons Must Make Their Big Trade Swing at the NBA Draft
The NBA Draft is almost a second "trade deadline" of sorts for franchises throughout the league. The ability to package draft capital with veterans to secure young talent that would be on a team-friendly contract, or established veterans who are looking for a change of scenery, is something that contending teams have to consider this time of year.
The Pistons now fit that mold for the first time in a while, which makes their decisions in the immediate future as important as ever. Omari Sankofa II explained one scenario Langdon could consider in a recent piece for the Detroit Free Press.
If there were a prospect the Pistons coveted that slipped into the later portion of round one, Detroit would have options in terms of moving up and snatching that rookie as several teams picking in the 20s own multiple first-round draft picks to their name. In particular, Sankofa II mentioned the Oklahoma City Thunder and Brooklyn Nets as possible trade partners.
One thing working in the Pistons' favor is the number of second-round draft picks they have at their disposal. Detroit owns 14 future second-round picks that they offer to Oklahoma City, Brooklyn, or any other team picking in the final third of the first round to move up and target a specific player.
Whether the Pistons' front office is going big game hunting this summer in search of a top-tier performer or looking to add to their young core with another first-round draft pick, Langdon will have options. What he chooses to do with those options will spell out what the future of professional basketball in Detroit looks like.