The Detroit Pistons are mentioned among the teams actively looking to improve their roster before the trade deadline. Is this a smart move?
The Detroit Pistons are looking to add to their team before the trade deadline this season.
The New Orleans Pelicans, the Sacramento Kings, and the Pistons (of course) are “three of the most active buyers” in the NBA right now according to a report from RealGM.
Here’s what they had to say about Detroit:
"Tom Gores wants the Pistons to return to the playoffs and they own their first round pick."
A first round pick lacks the value when the Pistons are going to end up out of the lottery as it is. However, finding a rebuilidng team to make a deal with is how a team like Detroit counters that.
A team that is looking to stockpile draft picks.
They would likely have to send an asset that is currently a player on this team as well.
There are three players that I could see the Pistons moving if they were to be buyers: Ish Smith, Reggie Bullock, or Stanley Johnson.
All three have value in some shape or form. Smith is a serviceable back-up point guard. Reggie Bullock is a proven sharpshooter. Stanley Johnson is a young, great defender that has started to figure out his offensive game as of late.
Smith and Bullock are expiring contracts which make them more appealing to teams in a rebuilding stage.
Does this all mean they should be buyers to make this team better?
There’s two sides to the coin.
If the Detroit Pistons approached a team with picks and some of their assets, they could acquire a good player that would make this team better.
How good is the question. I believe the Detroit Pistons aren’t talented enough to compete with the likes of Boston, Toronto, Philadelphia, and Milwaukee to consider making a move like this.
You lose a guy like Ish Smith and then Jose Calderon is running the second unit at point guard. You lose Stanley Johnson and the small forward position gets even thinner.
You lose Reggie Bullock and then the second-worst team in the NBA from three-point range gets even worse from outside.
We all witnessed what it was like not having a first-round draft pick this year as well. The Pistons did everything they could to make up for that by acquiring two second-round picks.
The Pistons are about as close to the luxury tax line as you can get. Adding anyone with a lot of value that might make them a contender would mean they are now paying a luxury tax.
Why are you paying a luxury tax if your team ‘might’ not even be a contender by acquiring another player?
However, that’s all opinion-based and we will never know unless it actually happens. If they are able to add a sharpshooter that can create his own opportunities and play well off the ball, the Pistons would be a much better team.
Bradley Beal was a name that was floated around when the Washington Wizards were struggling earlier this season.
Who knows who they might add.
This will be something to keep an eye on in the near future.