Detroit Pistons draft pick lucrative chip in blockbuster Karl-Anthony Towns Knicks trade

Remember that first-round pick the Detroit Pistons traded for Isaiah Stewart way back in 2020? It's on the move again.

Per reports, the New York Knicks sent the Pistons' protected first-rounder to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a blockbuster, three-team deal centered around Julius Randle and Karl-Anthony Towns. As a refresher, the pick is top-13 protected in 2025, top-11 in 2026, top-nine in 2027 and will convert to a second-round pick if not conveyed by then.

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The Pistons initially traded the pick to the Houston Rockets, and it has been moved several times since. The Rockets traded it to the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2021 for the draft rights to Alperen Sengun, and the Thunder sent the pick to the Knicks in exchange for the draft rights to Ousmane Dieng the following summer

Until the pick conveys, the Pistons are limited by the NBA's Stepien Rule and barred from trading a future first-rounder. Cue up the trade machine with the Timberwolves.

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Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com . Follow him @omarisankofa .

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons draft pick lucrative chip in blockbuster Karl-Anthony Towns Knicks trade