It’s mid-September and there are still more than two months to go until the 2020 NBA draft. But there has still been a lot of speculation about what’s in store for the Detroit Pistons during draft and free will.
This month’s mail collector largely examines the potential exchanges they might pursue. Thankfully, the playoffs have given us new angles to consider. Let’s see it.
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On paper, it makes sense that the Bucks would be interested in acquiring a player like Derrick Rose. It was blatantly evident during their series against the Heat that they lacked a secondary playmaker to help Giannis Antetokounmpo. Eric Bledsoe is a great defender, but his offense disappeared in the playoffs. He misses Malcolm Brogdon, to say the least.
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Rose is on the books next season for around $ 7.7 million – a steal considering she averaged 18.1 points and 5.6 assists last season. But last season he only reached 30.6% of his 3, not too far from his career average. It doesn’t respond to one of Milwaukee’s other greatest needs, filming. He is also not of the same caliber of defender as Bledsoe and George Hill. How much Milwaukee would be willing to give up for him?
The Bucks have the 24th pick in this year’s draft, courtesy of Indiana, and a young asset in Donte DiVincenzo. They could trade DiVincenzo or the pickaxe, along with ex Piston Ersan Ilyasova’s expiring contract, for Rose. I like the deal for Detroit if they get a choice. If I’m Milwaukee, I probably hope I can maximize the choice better considering it’s one of the few tradable assets available.
Boston makes a lot of sense. This year they have three choices in the first round: 14, 26 and 30. Considering they have established themselves as an Eastern Conference power, they currently only have one seat available on the roster and have nine players aged 25 or younger. , it’s fair to assume they would benefit from giving up some of their draft picks.
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I am also intrigued by the Nets. Kevin Durant will be back next year and if he’s 100% healthy, Brooklyn should have a chance to be a top playoff seed in the Eastern Conference. They also have a cap and could lose their best shooter, Joe Harris, in free agency this summer. I mentioned it as a swap in a story last week, but Luke Kennard makes a lot of sense for the Nets. He is five years younger than Harris, a top passer and nearly comparable as a 3-point shooter. More importantly, he will be eligible for the extension this off-season and as a limited free agent next summer, giving Brooklyn the opportunity to secure him long-term.
If Detroit is still available to leave Kennard, a conversation should be held there. Brooklyn has the nineteenth pick in this year’s draft, and all their future firsts thereafter. The Pistons could receive value along the way, when the Nets are sure to hope to contend for a title and earn the late early rounders.
Given that the top of this draft doesn’t have the same level of talent that previous drafts did, I don’t think there are many reasons why the Pistons are giving up resources to go up, unless it’s for a choice between the first two. . And while there have already been rumors of the Timberwolves and the Warriors considering trading those picks, the Pistons don’t seem to have any player who can justify a deal, unless Detroit offers a purse, or a surprise bidding war emerges. for a healthy Blake Griffin.
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After last month’s lottery, general manager Troy Weaver told reporters that he believes the draft is 14 or 15 players deep and that the Pistons can achieve the same player quality between third and thirteenth picks. The actual range could be larger, considering the amount of uncertainty. There’s an obvious value in moving down, according to Weaver’s comments.
It’s hard to say which is more likely for the Pistons, as the project is still two months away and the negotiations are really hard to predict. But it is easier to see the logic in moving down than in going up.
It’s not a particularly strong class for the big names, but there are some players who make sense for Detroit. Kings Center Harry Giles III, the twentieth pick of the 2017 draft, will be an unrestricted free agent. The former five-star recruit has been hampered by knee injuries since high school but has established himself as a functional hub with an edge as a director. It would be a good addition.
Dwane Casey has made it clear that he wants the Pistons to acquire a point guard, both in free will and through the draft. They’re also skinny in the middle, with Justin Patton just signed the only one on the roster. Both positions should be addressed.
What about a Miami-like turnaround? They will need a lot of luck. The Heat are in the Eastern Conference Finals due to Jimmy Butler and the excellent overall front office planning, but also due to roster improvements that were impossible to predict. Bam Adebayo went from great backup to member of the All-Star and All-Defensive second team. Former Michigan manager Duncan Robinson went from unselected Summer League signer to two-player to a starter and one of the league’s top 3-point shooters in two years. Kendrick Nunn and Tyler Herro exceeded expectations as rookies.
Among the many things the Pistons need if they want to smell next year’s Eastern Conference Finals – a healthy Griffin and Kennard, a starting point guard who can win games for them, at least one center who can reliably protect the circle. , more shots and more overall depth.
They probably won’t check all of these boxes this off season, unless they’re very lucky. And even if they were, they will need the cooperation of the rest of the conference to make a huge leap forward. Brooklyn should be a much better team with Durant returning. The Bucks are still the Bucks. Celtics, Sixers, Raptors and Pacers will also be in the mix.
Miami’s success is probably not a realistic expectation for the Pistons next season. But I think there is a chance they are better than people expect. It largely depends on what Weaver and the rest of the front office prioritize this offseason.
Contact Omari Sankofa II at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @Marisankof. The Free Press has launched a new digital subscription model. Here’s how you can access our most exclusive Pistons content. Read more about the Detroit Pistons and sign up for our Pistons newsletter.
