Detroit Pistons Don't Rule Out NBA Draft-Day Trade Ahead of Lottery

General manager Trajan Langdon, who was credited with the Pistons' turnaround, drafted Ron Holland fifth overall in 2024. Holland was raw but showed plenty of promise, and the Pistons are expected to build on their success.

The 2025 class is deeper than most, and the Pistons have been linked to players like Danny Wolf, although they will have to trade up to land a high-end young talent.

"I can't tell you that there's a specific thing we're looking at doing in the draft," said Langdon. "We'll, again, understand the landscape of it and see if we can move up if there's a player we really like, but we have to look at how much that cost is to the kind of player we think we're going to get."

For the first time since 2019, the Pistons won't draft in the lottery after making the playoffs. For the first time since 2018, Detroit won't have a first-round draft pick.

Langdon has a very limited track record as a talent evaluator and drafter, although his offseason roster construction in 2024 should give fans some hope.

With players like Jaden Ivey, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren, and Isaiah Stewart all possibly on the table, the Pistons will have several opinions to build out a winning roster. Only Cunningham is seen as untouchable, and Detroit is beyond building a young core; the quest for a title is officially underway.