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2019 NBA Draft: Pistons trade 30th pick to Cleveland Cavs for four second-round picks and cash

Strange move from Detroit who seemed poised to scoop up cheap talent via draft

2019 NBA Draft Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images

The Detroit Pistons repackaged the pick they got from the Milwaukee Bucks in the Tony Snell trade, sending it to the Cleveland Cavaliers for four future second-round picks, according to media reports.

Cleveland does not own their own second-round pick in 2019 or 2020 but they have the following from other teams: Utah 2020, Portland 2021, Houston and Washington 2022, Portland 2023, Miami 2024.

The Cavaliers ended up using the pick to take Kevin Porter Jr, who many had pegged for a contender for the Pistons to grab with the No. 15 overall pick. Instead, the Pistons got perhaps the steal of the draft in Sekou Doumbouya.

Trading out of the first round is a seemingly curious move even with the handful of picks coming Detroit’s way. The team is still lacking in depth and draft picks represent both depth and cheap labor.

After adding Doumbouya and presuming they keep the 45th overall pick and decline their option on Glenn Robinson III, Detroit will have 12 players under contract. Detroit will have the mid-level exception and the bi-annual exception at their disposal and staring at big holes at backup point guard, backup center and, to a lesser extent, backup power forward.