Should the Pistons Go Star Hunting?
Detroit is one of the hottest teams in basketball, but do they need to make a trade for a star player?
Quick, name that team: They have won 10 of their last 12 games, making them one of the hottest teams in the league. They are also currently a playoff team in their conference.
The team I’m referring to? Somehow, the Detroit Pistons.
Nobody expected the Pistons to be as good as they have been this season.
Seriously, no one.
Not even the franchise’s President of Basketball Operations, Trajan Langdon.
“You know we're definitely ahead of schedule,” Langdon said. “I don't think any of us expected to be above five hundred at this point in the season but we’re not getting overly excited. We’re very happy about the success we’ve had so far, but we got long ways to go.”
Yet, the Pistons *are* above .500. They boast a record of 21-19.
At this same point last season, Detroit was 3-36 — only a few weeks removed from a 28-game losing streak.
What a turnaround it has been.
But the Pistons' success has people yearning for more. With the NBA Trade Deadline just three weeks away, Detroit has become a popular team to mention as a team looking to make a major move at the deadline.
Some of the top names expected to be available on the trade market include:
Jimmy Butler
Zach LaVine
Bradley Beal
Brandon Ingram
Zion Williamson
Cameron Johnson
But should the Pistons be looking to make a splash move right now?
Jimmy Butler won’t be a Piston — nor should the Pistons want him to be.
Bradley Beal won’t waive his no-trade clause for a team like Charlotte or Detroit. That’s fine.
Zach LaVine has been stellar this year, but the length and richness of his contract still looms large.
Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram are both very talented and would certainly help the Pistons, but I don’t know if Detroit has the assets to complete a deal for Williamson.
Cameron Johnson would be a phenomenal addition to the roster. Heck, I’ve been saying that since he entered the 2019 NBA Draft. But the Nets want draft capital that Detroit does not have.
The Pistons have the most cap space in the NBA and an open roster spot. They will likely make a move at or before the deadline.
In a perfect world, Detroit adds an unwanted contract from another team along with draft capital.
But as the Pistons continue to win, the organization should be more selective with who they take back from a team in any deal. The player(s) Detroit receives needs to be able to contribute to the team.
There is a hole on the roster that has needed to be addressed since the offseason: another point guard. The Pistons need one now more than ever with the loss of Jaden Ivey, potentially for the rest of the season.
Marcus Sasser has had some quality performances — most recently in the second half against the New York Knicks - but it hasn’t been enough to quell the need for an experienced, bigger guard to give Detroit minutes off the bench.
The flashes from Sasser as a playmaker have come in spurts, but have not lasted. His lack of size also makes it difficult for him to work defensively.
Cade Cunningham has had to play heavier minutes than I’m sure J.B. Bickerstaff would like.
The Pistons may also want to add another forward to the roster, one with a bit more of a floor-spacing, offensive pedigree.
There is also something to be said about the chemistry that this Pistons team has right now. The locker room is very tight. The camaraderie each player has with one another is valuable. A trade that moves two or three of these guys could damage an immaculate set of vibes that has led to good results halfway through the season.
Is Tim Hardaway Jr. an elite starting wing in the NBA? Maybe not — but what he brings to the team on the court and as a well-liked veteran is incredibly impactful. Losing him in a trade would certainly impact the chemistry inside Detroit’s locker room. This is the same locker room that has been a revolving door for both players and coaches for the last decade.
Stability is a valuable asset to have in the NBA, an asset that is oftentimes disregarded in favor of turnover at both the front office and locker room levels. The Pistons fall into both of those categories.
Those are the types of factors that fans don’t always consider when playing with the NBA Trade Machine. Creating hypothetical deals that move three, four, or even five guys off a roster with no regard for the interpersonal impact is an oversight that a front office has to manage.
But when you look at the position that Detroit is in, it seems inevitable that at least one move is coming.
What that move will look like is still unknown.