NBA Draft: What would the Pelicans give up for the number one pick?

The New Orleans Pelicans have apparently inquired about trading for the number one pick in the NBA Draft.

ESPN first reported that the Pelicans were one of several teams that had reached out to the Detroit Pistons about what it might take to pry the number one pick away.

Cade Cunningham is the presumptive number one choice and is a guy who would be a nearly perfect fit with Zion Williamson, as he can score from all three levels, plays smothering defense and has a high basketball I.Q. to go with it.

As many of you know, I also cover the Detroit Pistons and I can tell you now that they are not trading this pick to the Pelicans unless Zion Williamson is involved. The Pistons have been without a star for ages and aren’t going to pass up the chance at one unless the offer is too good to pass up.

That being said, the Pelicans are one of the few teams in the NBA that has the right combination of young players and future draft assets to possibly make such a move, as unlikely as it may be.

What would it take for the Pelicans to trade for the number one pick?

If the Pistons were even willing to listen to an offer, the Pels would have to come big or get hung up on quicker than a credit collector.

I’d say Brandon Ingram would 100 percent have to be involved as the Pistons would want a star who was already locked up for the foreseeable future. They would also undoubtedly want the Pelicans number 10 pick from this draft plus 3-4 additional unprotected picks, and that still probably wouldn’t be enough.

Those Pelicans’ picks aren’t going to be nearly as valuable as people think, as the Pels are on the precipice of being good and won’t be choosing in the lottery forever. You don’t give up the number one pick for picks in the 20’s, no matter how many of them there are.

They could toss in Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Jaxson Hayes as well, but I still don’t think that’s enough to move the needle for the Pistons, who already have two All-Rookie players who are better than those guys.

I’m not sure why ESPN even floated this rumor, as it surely isn’t going to happen, but the idea of Cade Cunningham and Zion Williamson together is pretty intriguing.