NBA Trade Rumors: Pistons looking to move No. 12 draft pick for veteran

Apr 10, 2017; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons head coach Stan Van Gundy reacts during the fourth quarter against the Washington Wizards at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 10, 2017; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons head coach Stan Van Gundy reacts during the fourth quarter against the Washington Wizards at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

NBA Trade Rumors: The Detroit Pistons is open to the possibility of moving their No. 12 overall draft pick for an established veteran

After taking a bit of a step back this season, missing the playoffs entirely, Stan Van Gundy and the Detroit Pistons are hoping to get back on track during the 2017-18 season.

One way they ensure on avoiding taking another step back next season is by doing everything necessary to improve their team now. And according to ESPN’s Marc Stein, they are open to the idea of moving their first-round draft pick – No. 12 overall – in next months’ NBA Draft.

Specifically, Stein notes that the Pistons want to acquire a “win-now veteran.”

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"[via ESPN]NBA Draft scuttle: Hearing Detroit is open to discussing trades for its No. 12 overall pick in hopes of acquiring more of a win-now veteran."

And for where the Pistons want to be next season, moving the 12th overall pick in next month’s NBA Draft makes a lot of sense. Even though this is arguably one of the deeper drafts in recent years, the bigger and better – and, most important, NBA-ready – prospects will likely be off the board by the time the Pistons go on the clock at 12.

Detroit would rather use that asset on a player that can come in and play potentially big minutes from day one of the 2017-18 season, rather than to use it on something that isn’t a sure thing.

Question is, of course, what exactly would the No. 12 pick fetch them on the open market? Could it get them a better starting point guard? A legit stretch 4 to stick next to Andre Drummond?

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It’s the big unknown with this whole scenario. Though, it’s definitely worth the try. Detroit might be a player or two away from being a top 5 or 6 team in the East. The trick is finding that piece. And it likely won’t come in the NBA Draft, not at No. 12.