Frank Kaminsky and Myles Turner worked out for the Pistons on Saturday, a sign that the team is open to trading its lottery pick at No. 8 overall, Terry Foster of the Detroit News opines. The Pistons acquired a starting caliber power forward this month in Ersan Ilyasova, making it somewhat curious that they would work out two power forwards at this stage who are expected to be drafted in the 11-16 range, Foster continues. They could also swing a deal for the Knicks’ pick at No. 4, which would allow them to secure either Justise Winslow or Mario Hezonja, who are considered to be the top small forwards in the draft, Foster adds.
In other draft news regarding the Pistons:
- Detroit also brought in point guards Travis Trice, T.J. McConnell and Kenneth Smith and center Mouhammadou Jaiteh on Saturday to wrap up its scheduled pre-draft workouts, according to David Mayo of MLive.com. The Pistons worked out 51 players, including likely first-rounders Devin Booker, Sam Dekker, Stanley Johnson, Kevon Looney, Kelly Oubre, Bobby Portis and Winslow, as well as Kaminsky and Turner, while guard Terran Petteway was the only player who worked out twice, Mayo reports.
- Jaiteh plans to leave the French league and play in the NBA next season if he’s drafted, Mayo writes in a separate piece. “My goal is to join the team next year,” Jaiteh said to the Detroit media. “I’ve had three years now playing overseas pro. I really earned some experience, some maturity, and I think if I want to keep improving fast, I think the best is to be around the best players in the world, with the best coaches. That’s why I want to join the team this year and fight for it.”
- If the Pistons move down in the first round, Boston would appear to be a likely trading partner, Mayo speculates in his weekly mailbag story. The Celtics have two first rounders at No. 16 and No. 28, but in Mayo’s thinking the Pistons would probably be more interested in a package of the No. 16 pick and a second-rounder with a non-guaranteed contract, rather than swapping for both first rounders. The Pistons probably don’t have the assets to move up from No. 8 and in all likelihood will retain the pick, Mayo concludes.