CHICAGO – The NBA draft lottery is here, and for the first time in a very long time, the Detroit Pistons do not have a first-round pick.
Detroit traded its 2025 first-round pick to the Minnesota Timberwolves, which was protected top-13.
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This meant the pick would transfer to the T-Wolves if the Pistons made the playoffs, which, surprisingly, they did.
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The trade was part of a larger deal involving the Timberwolves and New York Knicks related to Karl-Anthony Towns.
The Pistons also traded guard Monte Morris to the Timberwolves in exchange for Shake Milton, Troy Brown Jr., and a 2030 second-round pick.
Additionally, the Pistons traded Wendell Moore Jr. and the 37th overall pick in the 2024 draft to the Timberwolves for the 53rd overall pick in 2024.
So, the Pistons lost their first-round pick in the blockbuster deal involving KAT, which helped eliminate them from the first round of the NBA playoffs in 2025.
Oddly enough, the 2025 first-round pick was traded to the Portland Trailblazers, who selected Isaiah Stewart with the 16th pick in the 2020 draft.
Beef Stew was then traded to the Houston Rockets and then to the Pistons for Christian Wood and a protected future first-round pick, and a second-round pick in 2020.
--> NBA Draft 2020: Detroit Pistons select C Isaiah Stewart with 16th pick
Now that the dust has settled, Detroit finished the 2024-25 regular season 44-38, locking up the No. 6 seed, where they took on the No. 3 seed Knicks.
Although they fell to 0-7 inside Little Caesars Arena in postseason play, Pistons fans couldn’t ask for much more. Detroit finished the 2023-24 season with just 14 wins, a franchise record.
Nonetheless, although Detroit does not have a first-round draft pick in 2025, they did secure a second-round pick (No. 37) from the Toronto Raptors (via the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs).
The Pistons have key free agents to contend with during the offseason, as Malik Beasley, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Dennis Schröder are all seeking new contracts.
Paul Reed and Lindy Waters III are also free agents this offseason, plus they’re getting Jaden Ivey and Beef Stew back from injury to go along with their main core of Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren, Tobias Harris, and Ausar Thompson.
So don’t be surprised if team president Trajan Langdon and head coach J.B. Bickerstaff decide to run it back with the same team next season.
