Could the Detroit Pistons and Sacramento Kings be working on a draft day trade? According to ESPN.com's Chad Ford (premium), the Kings are looking into trading the No. 5 overall pick. And the most likely trade partner may be Detroit, who could offer Tayshaun Prince and their No. 7 selection in the first round.
If the Pistons would give up the No. 7 pick and Tayshaun Prince for the No. 5 pick and Andres Nocioni, I think they'd have a deal. But so far the Pistons have been adamant that they're holding on to Prince, and I don't think the Kings would do a Rip Hamilton-for-Nocioni swap.
The Pistons would then be in position to draft the player they reportedly covet, Kentucky center DeMarcus Cousins.
But would Joe Dumars have to trade up to get Cousins? That's one of the big questions as analysts and observers chase rumors and post their mock drafts leading up to the NBA Draft on June 24.
SB Nation's Sacramento Kings blog, Sactown Royalty, believes the deal makes financial sense for the team:
Prince makes $11.4 million next season, and then is a free agent. Nocioni makes $6.8 million next season and $6.6 million in 2011-12. So said trade would slice into the Kings' cap space this summer by about $4.6 million, but opens up an extra $6.6 million the following summer. The Kings would have about $15 million in cap space this summer after this trade.
But Detroit News Pistons beat writer Ted Kulfan isn't so sure Nocioni would be a good fit at the Palace:
Nocioni is the type of physical player that Pistons president Joe Dumars covets. But he's 30 years old. Last season, he averaged 8.5 points and 3.0 rebounds in 78 games on a bad Sacramento team. That's not enough from a guy averaging just over $7 million on a five-year, $38 million deal (two seasons left).
Kulfan seems skeptical about Cousins dropping down far enough for the Pistons to select him at No. 7, however.
Keep up on the latest surrounding these rumors at Detroit Bad Boys, SB Nation's Detroit Pistons blog.
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