Detroit Pistons attempted to trade with Charlotte Hornets to keep pick
By Aaron Blue
The Cleveland Cavaliers jump to the first pick had a ripple effect to other teams around the league. The Detroit Pistons first-round draft choice in the 2014 NBA Draft was under Top 8 protection, in that if the pick landed lower than No. 8 spot, the pick would be given to the Charlotte Hornets.
The Pistons had the eighth best odds in the lottery only to be jumped by the Cavaliers, who had the ninth best, causing their pick to move down to No. 9.
After the results of the lottery came, the Pistons attempted to try to trade for the pick they were now forced to give up, according to Vincent Ellis of the Detroit Free Press, who shared the news via Twitter.
I gather the #Pistons had talks with #Hornets to try to retain the pick this year. Talks never got serious. Not sure what carrot was dangled
— VinceEllis (@AlabamaScribe56) May 21, 2014
#Pistons reluctant to lose assets or future first-rounders so hard to see such talks going far.
— VinceEllis (@AlabamaScribe56) May 21, 2014
The protection came from a 2012 trade between the Pistons and the then-Bobcats that sent Ben Gordon to Detroit for Corey Maggette. The pick would have only been Top-1 protected in next year’s draft if it wasn’t satisfied this year.
The Pistons will still be selecting 38th overall in the upcoming draft and now will have the option to trade their 2015 first rounder if they chose to in any attempt to shed salaries, such as Josh Smith’s $42 million remaining for three-years.