For teams whose seasons ended long ago, the time between their last game and the NBA draft can seem like an eternity for fans. To fill this time, media outlets post about the possible moves teams could make. Heck, just yesterday I saw a rumor about Andrew Wiggins being traded. He's still playing in the NBA Finals! So, the Pistons have had a swirl of rumors going around. I'd like to rank my top 5.
The Draft
DeAndre Ayton
Marvin Bagley III
Collin Sexton
Jerami Grant
Obviously, who the Pistons are going to take in this year's NBA draft is the most significant rumor floating around right now. I hope they can take Jaden Ivey. It seems, however, that Troy Weaver and the front office are more interested in a few other players: Keegan Murray and Shaedon Sharpe. While I'm not opposed to either of those players, I just think that Ivey could fill the backcourt hole next to Cade Cunningham.
The DeAndre Ayton rumor is interesting but seems unlikely to happen. I don't have much confidence that the Pistons will land a top-tier talent like him. Money can convince guys but the situation has become more and more important to players in the NBA. Does he want to go from a contender to a team that is rebuilding? Furthermore, does he want to leave Phoenix's weather for Detroit's? I know it seems silly, but it can't be overlooked.
Marvin Bagley's situation largely depends on what happens with Ayton. I think Bagley has shown to be a good fit and a more affordable option for the Pistons. While I've also heard murmurings of Mitchell Robinson, I still think Bagley is the better choice. There were strange complaints about his defense this year that I found quite out of place. Bagley isn't an all-world defender, but he's far from terrible. I liked his pairing with Cunningham and Isaiah Stewart.
Collin Sexton is a good option for the Pistons if they don't get a solid backcourt mate for Cunningham in the draft. The biggest conundrum here is that he is only worth signing for the right price. The Pistons should be careful about overspending at this point in the rebuild. They've done it in the past to their detriment.
Finally, I'm beyond tired of the Jerami Grant rumors. They've been going on for over a year. It seems like the rumors started immediately upon his signing with the team. Grant is a good player. These rumors, in large part, are dumb. The Pistons aren't trading Jerami Grant unless it is an overwhelming package being sent our way. That's not happening in the offseason. Let's let it go.