[The Athletic] Will the Pistons and Rockets make a trade around the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft?

The Khris Middleton comp makes a ton of sense to me. Solid #2 piece on an elite team, and capable of taking over some critical games, and is no doubt a difference maker and net positive in a whole bunch of areas… but not the #1a option.

 

Agree. The ability to hold Detroit hostage has value. If you look at the pattern with other teams, it cost a good 2nd just for the right to remove protections on a FRP so you can deal other picks. That may not be important to Detroit now, but it will be in a few years, when we will still have 5 years of control left on the pick.

So there is a unique issue here with Detroit, and this is a rare opportunity for them to actually get it back. Otherwise that pick might get dealt to another team with other plans.

Either they are all in on Cunningham (and nothing we offer will be enough), or they aren't, in which case I serious doubt they will do better than #2 and getting their pick back.

 

Let's keep the number 2 pick and give them 23,24, and future picks.