Pistons Turn Down Thunder's Offer For No.1 Pick

With Cade Cunnigham likely to go number one in this year's draft, multiple teams have contacted the Pistons regarding their coveted pick. Most recently, Oklahoma City made a very enticing deal involving Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the No. 6 pick, per Bleacher Report's Jake Fischer.

As tantalizing as the deal appears, Detroit rejected it and consequently promulgated that the No. 1 pick isn't going anywhere.

This report by Fischer accentuates the potential generational talent that is Cunningham; just last year, teams drafting within the top four all offered their picks in exchange for Gilgeous-Alexander. Fast forward to this year and one team executive asserts that "it's going to take a f--king lot to get him, but he's no longer impossible to get." It looks like the 19-year-old out of Arlington, Texas, is enough to move the needle.

Gilgeous-Alexander, 23, is eligible to sign a five-year, $168 million rookie-scale extension this summer — a contract he will likely procure barring some blockbuster trade. In 35 games this year, the Toronto native averaged 23.7 points, 5.9 assists and 4.7 rebounds.

While it is specious that the Pistons draft anyone but Cunningham, there are reports circulating that they are keeping their options open. According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Detroit's internal meetings are still revolving around Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green and Evan Mobley.

Detroit’s internal meetings are still revolving around three players for the No. 1 pick on Thursday night — Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green and Evan Mobley, sources tell ESPN. Detroit isn’t fully there yet on committing to Cunningham with their first overall choice.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 26, 2021