The 2024 Draft Lottery didn’t go how the Detroit Pistons wanted, as they only received the No. 5 pick of this summer’s draft despite finishing the season with a league-worst 14-68 record.
For the third consecutive year, the Detroit Pistons will have the fifth overall pick, which they previously used to select Jaden Ivey and Ausar Thompson. Because they’re a rebuilding squad, Detroit will likely use this summer’s pick to continue to build their core.
However, if the Detroit Pistons want to improve their win total next season, they might have to trade their 2024 first-round pick to get a proven veteran. Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley has an interesting proposition in his latest column.
Buckley’s idea would see the Detroit Pistons acquire Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma in exchange for Quentin Grimes, Isaiah Stewart, and the No. 5 overall pick.
“There has been quite a bit of trade chatter around Detroit’s third consecutive No. 5 pick, as the Pistons appear not only tired of perpetual losing but also eager to see how Cade Cunningham operates with an improved supporting cast,” Buckley wrote. “Kuzma, who hails from nearby Flint, Michigan, might be worth a flier as a relatively low-cost but still awfully productive co-star.”
Does Kyle Kuzma improve the Detroit Pistons?
A huge reason why the Detroit Pistons were the worst team in the NBA this year is because of their atrocious offense. According to the NBA’s official website, Detroit is 26th in three-point shooting percentage at 34.8 percent and is 27th in points per game at 109.9.
Kyle Kuzma was one of the best players for the Washington Wizards this season, averaging 22.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists on 46.3 percent shooting from the floor and 33.6 percent from three-point land in 70 regular-season games.
Adding a one-time champion in Kyle Kuzma would certainly help speed up the development of point guard Cade Cunningham.
