The Detroit Pistons are on the clock in the 2021 NBA draft, in which they are widely expected to select Oklahoma State star Cade Cunningham with the No. 1 overall pick on July 29. That said, Pistons general manager Troy Weaver and Detroit's stakeholders are believed to be weighing all of their options, which means the draft's other potentially transformational stars are also in play -- as is trading the pick. What would a Pistons trade look like? What kind of haul could Detroit hope to receive in return? Our team of NBA experts offered some proposals for that scenario, breaking down the terms and the potential trade partners.
A two-for-one special in H-Town
Detroit Pistons receive: The No. 2 pick, the No. 24 pick, return of their protected 2022 first-round pick
Houston Rockets receive: The No. 1 pick, the No. 37 pick
Kevin Pelton: Although we've seen teams move up from No. 3 to No. 1, there has never been a swap of the top two picks in the same NBA draft like I'm proposing here. Part of the issue, I'm sure, is agreeing to the right compensation. After all, if the Pistons really prefer Jalen Green (or Evan Mobley) while the Rockets think Texas native Cunningham is the clear top prospect, why move up at all? Houston would in that scenario assure Detroit doesn't trade the pick to someone else, and I think there's a reasonable package to be found.
My trade would start by giving the Pistons back the protected first-round pick (from this year, when it didn't convey, anywhere out to 2027) they sent to the Rockets last year to get the No. 16 pick and draft Isaiah Stewart. Based on the protections, this will probably be a non-lottery pick, so Detroit could reasonably ask for a bit more. Swapping the second of Houston's back-to-back picks later in the first round for the Pistons' top second-round pick manages to balance out where both teams are drafting after the top two.
Golden State goes big for No. 1?
Detroit Pistons receive: James Wiseman, No. 7, No. 14 and 2022 unprotected first
Golden State Warriors receive: The No. 1 pick, No. 37, Rodney McGruder and Jahlil Okafor
Bobby Marks: This is a type of trade that the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions would make the night of the NFL draft, not the Pistons and Warriors in late July. The cost to move up to No. 1 is rich for the Warriors. Last year's no. 2 pick, Wiseman, both lottery selections (7 and 14) and an unprotected 2022 first are sent to Detroit. The Warriors are pushing all their draft assets to the middle of the table (an unprecedented four first-round picks if you include Wiseman) with the belief that the selection of Cunningham fits the roster timeline of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson. The thought of trading out of the top spot is not an easy decision for Detroit, especially with the ability to select between Cunningham, Green, Mobley and Jalen Suggs. However, the temptation to add last year's second pick in Wiseman, two potential starters and a future asset is an offer that Pistons GM Weaver could not turn down.
This trade can be done the night of the draft, but because Wiseman has an $8.7 million cap hit and the Pistons do not have a big enough trade exception to take on his salary, Detroit will need to add the salaries of Rodney McGruder and Jahlil Okafor. Because McGruder's contract for 2021-22 is non-guaranteed, the Pistons will need to protect the full amount to make the money work. Okafor has an expiring $2.1 million salary for next season. Both first-round picks the Warriors are sending out do not have trade value as it relates to outgoing salary.
SGA to Motown?
Detroit Pistons receive: The No. 6 pick, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Oklahoma City Thunder receive: The No. 1 pick
Tim Bontemps: The Thunder have put themselves in a situation in which Gilgeous-Alexander, one of the better young guards in the NBA, doesn't quite fit with their timeline, given they have a thousand picks in the future and the young players they have are far from their potential future peaks. That means they can go in one of two directions: try to speed up the talent acquisition process around SGA, or use him to try to find talent that fits the organization's timeline.
In this situation, Oklahoma City would take the latter path, using the sixth pick and Gilgeous-Alexander to move up to the top spot in the draft -- where the Thunder could then take Cunningham. Detroit, meanwhile, would still get a high lottery pick to continue its rebuilding process, while also getting SGA to become the focal point of the team's rebuild under Weaver. He'd be a great fit alongside breakout rookies Saddiq Bey and Stewart and would fit nicely alongside last year's No. 7 overall pick, Killian Hayes, who would have some of the playmaking burden taken off of him as a result.
Cavs gets a franchise-changing No. 1 pick, again
Detroit Pistons receive: The No. 3 pick, Darius Garland
Cleveland Cavaliers receive: The No. 1 pick, McGruder and Okafor
Andre Snellings: The Pistons would be adding two young cornerstones to build around. Garland, the fifth pick in the 2019 draft, is fresh off a breakout sophomore campaign and is still only 21 years old. He is a strong floor general who can score and might be able to play next to the 6-foot-5 Hayes as the nucleus of their backcourt of the future. And with the third pick, the Pistons would still be assured of getting one of the elite prospects in this draft in Mobley or Green as potentially their next franchise centerpiece.
The Cavaliers, meanwhile, would be able to bring in Cunningham as an uber-talented 6-foot-8 point forward to build their team around, a scenario that seemed to work out well for them previously. Cunningham's skill set would seem to mesh perfectly with Collin Sexton, who is proving to be one of the better young scorers in the NBA and also has some lead guard ability to take some of the ballhandling pressure off Cunningham. This trade would also require McGruder's non-guaranteed contract for 2021-22 to be protected at the full amount to make the money work, along with Okafor's expiring deal.
Penny 2.0 to the Magic?
Detroit Pistons receive: The No. 5 pick, the No. 8 pick, Chuma Okeke
Orlando Magic receive: The No. 1 pick, Okafor
Jonathan Givony: The Magic consolidate three strong assets into the No. 1 pick in the draft, helping to find some hierarchy in their roster among their plethora of young players and hopefully landing a franchise player in Cunningham, who can bring it all together with his outstanding combination of size, defensive versatility, shot-making, ballhandling, passing and winning intangibles. Cunningham would be a natural fit at small forward alongside 2020 first-rounders Cole Anthony and R.J. Hampton, both of whom are scoring-minded guards, while also being able to seamlessly play in lineups with stalwarts Markelle Fultz and Jonathan Isaac. This trade is obviously a home run for the Magic.
For the Pistons, this probably makes less sense and is only logical if they are indeed not as high on Cunningham as many around the NBA suspect, particularly in terms of his fit with last year's No. 7 pick, Hayes, whose value could plummet even further if Detroit picks Cunningham to usurp him. Instead, the Pistons can look to take several swings at players with star power, such as Jonathan Kuminga or Suggs (one of whom will certainly be available at No. 5), along with a young guard such as James Bouknight, Keon Johnson or Josh Giddey -- whichever prospect Weaver is highest on. Adding a versatile 22-year-old in Okeke, who has already shown promise as a 3-and-D wing/forward, would bring value as well.