Detroit Pistons could draft and stash European prospect – Detroit Free Press
Detroit Pistons president/coach Stan Van Gundy meets with reporters for a season wrapup news conference Thursday, April 28, 2016. Video by Vince Ellis / DFP Videolicious
The Detroit Pistons have options with their two picks in the NBA draft on June 23.
Pistons general manager Jeff Bower used the term “chip” to describe the first-round pick, leaving open the possibility for a trade.
The team could whittle the huge list of names down to two prospects (they have the 18th and 49th overall picks) with the intention of having both players on next year’s roster.
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But they could draft an international prospect with the intention of leaving them in Europe in the short term.
“That is a possibility, of an international player who remains over in Europe for a year or two,” Bower said recently at the NBA draft combine in Chicago. “You have to look at the economics of everything, how each decision impacts it.”
The Pistons have a solid group of young players, and team president Stan Van Gundy has said there isn’t much need to get younger.
They will look to add veterans through trades and free agency, and the prospect of finding an immediate impact in the draft is unlikely. That could open the door to leaving a draftee in Europe for next season.
But with player costs rising because of the exploding salary cap, the cost-certainty of first rounders and ability to negotiate contracts with second rounders makes it important to consider having rookies around to fill out the roster.
Contact Vince Ellis: [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @vincent_ellis56.
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