We’ll be taking a look at each player under contract with the Pistons next season and uselessly discussing the merits of trading or keeping each individual. Because what else are we supposed to talk about right now?
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
To trade: The short answer is he’s one of the few Pistons signed for next season with some value on the market. He’s a big guard with good defensive instincts, he’s strong, he’s durable (starting all 82 games this season), he’s still on his rookie deal and his mix of shooting and defense, along with an off-the-dribble game that has at least shown some glimpses of promise, he’d be an intriguing prospect if the Pistons were to shop him. They’re a team with multiple holes, and sometimes, filling those holes requires giving up a valuable piece.
Caldwell-Pope still has notable flaws — his decision-making and shot selection leave something to be desired at times, and he was pretty awful on the road this season vs. at home.
The Pistons also have a replacement on the roster in Jodie Meeks. Meeks had a rough season, but he’s signed to a fairly pricey contract which, combined with his poor overall production, means he’s probably not going anywhere. Meeks started the season with an injury, though, which clearly limited his effectiveness. He got much better in the second half of the season too, making 41 percent of his threes after the All-Star Break.
Plus, if they trade him, we never have to have a, “who’s better, KCP or Trey Burke?,” discussion again.
Not to trade: Shooting guard has been a problematic position for the Pistons since pre-Curry/Kuester Crisis Richard Hamilton. Caldwell-Pope took on a much larger workload in his second season. He also must’ve earned the trust of his coach — Van Gundy kept running him out there even if he complained about him sometimes.
Caldwell-Pope continued to show that he’s a potential impact player defensively as he improves, he hit a respectable amount of his 3-pointers (35 percent) and his position and skill set is highly important in today’s pace and space NBA. Meeks had a good second half, but he also had an abysmal first half. So if you believe Meeks is closer to the first half than the second half, you have no ready replacement for Caldwell-Pope as a starter.
Make it happen: Propose a plausible (i.e. fair or at least reasonable) for both sides using ESPN’s Trade Machine and publish it in the comments.
Pistons get:
- Kelly Olynyk
Celtics get:
- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
Rationale: The Pistons would love a young stretch big man to pair with Andre Drummond and replace Greg Monroe, and Olynyk is decent. If the Celtics pursue (and lands) Kevin Love, they wouldn’t need all three of Love, Olynyk and Jared Sullinger. Their guards — Isaiah Thomas, Avery Bradley and Marcus Smart — are a little on the smallish side, so KCP gives them a promising (and big) defensive-minded guard to add to their mix of perimeter piranhas.
Your turn: give me your best KCP trade, or make your impassioned plea to never consider trading him.