In an interesting turn of events, the Detroit Pistons ended up taking promising center Jalen Duren with the 13th overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft. His draft rights were initially traded from the Charlotte Hornets to the New York Knicks , but he ultimately ended up with the Pistons.
The Knicks traded Duren’s rights to create cap space to sign Jalen Brunson and Isaiah Hartenstein, gaining three first-round picks in the process. However, they are now looking for a long-term solution at center alongside Mitchell Robinson, and Duren’s services would be very valuable at this point.
Meanwhile, the Pistons don’t expect to be a competitive team for the foreseeable future. With Cade Cunningham’s recent extension, they could be looking to speed up their rebuilding process. The Knicks are actively looking for a new center, and if they could orchestrate a splashy deal to acquire Duren, it would significantly boost their roster. In such a scenario, the Knicks might be willing to part with a solid player, potentially a shooter like Miles McBride.