The Detroit Pistons have landed Blake Griffin in a blockbuster deal that sent Tobias Harris and Avery Bradley to the Los Angeles Clippers. The question now becomes, what’s next?
The Detroit Pistons have added a superstar talent to its roster in the form of Blake Griffin. The team now has two legitimate pieces that could lead the team to a championship in the future, if the Pistons add the right pieces around them.
And that’s the key, “IF” the Pistons add the right pieces around Drummond and Griffin.
The last big piece remaining has to be at point guard.
The Pistons do have Reggie Jackson, but he’s also had a history of missing game time, and there are serious questions about whether or not he ever regains his pre-injury form.
Even if Jackson returns at 70 or 80 percent of what he was in 2015-16, I think the team can be a nice playoff team behind Jackson, Drummond, and Griffin.
But that’s not what the Pistons want to be. The Pistons are “serious” about winning, and with a move like the one the team made for Griffin, the Pistons can’t be afraid to make another bold move.
I’ve been firm on my stance that the Pistons should build with an eye towards the future, unless the team can add a superstar talent.
Now that the Pistons have added that superstar, the Pistons must do the opposite and play to win now.
If there’s a chance the Pistons can land Kemba Walker or Tyreke Evans, for example, two point guards that have been rumored to be available for the right price, then the Pistons should do everything it can to make it happen.
That includes offering another first round pick, hopefully a first that is within the next four seasons–roughly the window the Pistons have to win a title with Griffin and Drummond.
Landing Walker might not sound feasible, specially after it was rumored that the Hornets turned down a deal including a first round pick and Tobias Harris, but if the Pistons were willing to take on Nicholas Batum’s contract along with parting with a first round pick, the Hornets might be willing to change its mind.
Including Batum in a deal might sound like a death sentence for the Pistons, but there are trades that could be executed that would allow the Pistons to keep both Stanley Johnson and Luke Kennard, while pairing Walker with Drummond and Griffin.
At this point why not? Maybe the Pistons could part with less for Evans?
Next: Things I like and don’t like about Detroit Pistons deal for Griffin
The Pistons are at a place where pushing all the chips to the middle of the table might be its best move, even if it means parting with another first round pick.