The 2013 first-round pick that the Detroit Pistons included in their trade with the Charlotte Bobcats on Tuesday will be protected in the lottery, reports Yahoo!'s Adrian Wojnarowski. That means that Charlotte will only take the pick if the Pistons make the playoffs. Detroit hasn't made the postseason since 2009.
Pistons’ 2013 Pick Included In Ben Gordon Trade Protected In The Lottery
Woj also reports that the pick is protected through No. 8 in 2014, protected at No. 1 for 2015 and unprotected in 2016. Chances are, given Detroit’s projection, that Charlotte will either grab it in the mid- to late teens in 2013 or in the teens in 2014.
The move was a big ol' salary cap dump by Detroit. Charlotte, rebuilding with young players, who come with cheap contracts, took on the extra salary for a potentially better fit and the extra asset. One would expect Ben Gordon to play with or come off the bench behind Kemba Walker and Gerald Henderson.
For more on the Bobcats, please visit Rufus On Fire. For more on the Pistons, please check out Detroit Bad Boys and SB Nation Detroit.
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