Detroit Pistons Land Former Lottery Pick in Recent Mock Trade

The Detroit Pistons land a Golden State standout in a recent mock trade.

Jan 5, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) grabs a rebound | D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports

With the playoffs out of the picture for the Detroit Pistons, it’s almost time for them to start looking to the future. Based on the flurry of moves they’ve made this year, it could end up being a very busy summer for the front office.

Due to them having one of the league’s worst records, the Pistons should once again have a top-five pick in the draft. On top of that, Detroit is also projected to have some of the largest cap space in free agency.

The Pistons could either sign free agents, or trade into this cap space. As the regular season comes to a close, the people at Bleacher Report put together mock trades for every squad not making the playoffs. For the Pistons, a scenario was laid out where they acquire Andrew Wiggins and Gary Payton II from the Golden State Warriors in exchange for a second-round pick.

Wiggins was a key piece for the Warriors during their title run in 2022, but has fallen off since. The former All-Star is coming off the worst season of his career, posting his lowest points per game average (12.9).

Payton is a high-level perimeter defender, but struggled to stay on the floor this season. He appeared in just 37 games thus far due to various injuries.

Due to the rollercoaster of a career he’s had, acquiring Wiggins would be a roll of the dice for the Pistons. That said, he is the exact archetype of forward they should be looking for. He’s shown the potential of being able to produce on both ends and be an effective three-point shooter.

As for his contract, Wiggins is in the first year of a four-year, $109 million extension he signed in 2022. His salary will range between $26-$30 million over the next three years.

The Pistons did a good job this year bringing in players that fit alongside the team’s current core. While Wiggins could be a complementary piece, his track record and contract aren’t worth gambling on.