Should the Detroit Pistons make a trade before the deadline?

Blake Griffin has been spectacular this year, but hasn’t gotten much of any help from his teammates. Should this make the Detroit Pistons pull a trade?

The Detroit Pistons currently find themselves at ninth place in the eastern conference at 21-26; 1.5 games behind the eighth seeded Miami Heat.

After their most recent win over the New Orleans Pelicans, star Blake Griffin said it didn’t feel like a good win but he’ll take it. Griffin finished with 37 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists. The Pistons only had two other players in double figures: Reggie Jackson (17) and Jon Leuer (11).

This is symbolic of the Gucci Duffel Griffin has been carrying the Pistons in all year. Griffin is enjoying what is likely his best season of his career. He’s putting up career highs in points per game (26.0), and three point percentage (36.3), while also being asked to rebound (8.1 per game) and be the teams primary play-maker (5.2 assists a game).

Outside of Andre Drummond, the Detroit Pistons lack almost every other aspect needed to win NBA games. The team is last in the league in three point shooting (32 percent), but are ninth in the league in attempts.

Griffin leads the team in assists, and due to Jackson’s decline and use in Dwane Casey’s offense, there is no other real play-maker on the team.

Their backup point guard in Ish Smith has been hurt half the season, and this team seems to always have a point guard injury issue.

Stanley Johnson has fallen in the rotation, after not making the leap needed on the offensive end this year.

The team has started Zaza Pachulia a few games and…

Well, that should speak for itself.

So, this begs the question.

Should the Detroit Pistons make a trade before the deadline?

Well, they most likely will make a deal as they’ve been linked to multiple trade rumors.

They probably should make a trade too.

Griffin, like mentioned earlier, is enjoying the best season of his career. He’s been healthy all season and the Pistons HAVE to capitalize on their best talent since Isiah Thomas.

The team, in a weak eastern conference, is only 1.5 games behind eighth seed and could jump up the standings with just a handful of wins and a good stretch of basketball.

*Also worth noting that Victor Oladipo suffered a season ending injury. While we hate to see players get injured, whether the Pacers can keep their heads above water in his absence remains to be seen. This could help the Pistons.*

Griffin and Drummond have not been the issue this year, it has been their surrounding pieces. This does not mean Drummond is untouchable, but trading some assets to get this duo some help immediately is probably what this team is going to do.

They probably should too.

BUT.

It could make more sense for this team to wait for the off-season to make some trades.

Now, if they’re going to trade Luke Kennard, Reggie Bullock, Johnson, or some picks right now then fine.

Go ahead, no issue with that.

But, the team should seriously think about waiting till the off-season to trade Jackson.

Jackson has become, maybe always has been, the Pistons most polarizing player.

But, now that his play has declined (whether it’s his fault or not) it’s become hard to really defend keeping him around.

Every casual fan of the Detroit Pistons wants Jackson traded. Look at any trade machine trade created by a fan and it includes shipping off Jackson.

But, it probably doesn’t make much sense to do it now.

Jackson will become an expiring contract in the off-season, likely raising his trade value AT LEAST  a little bit. Expiring contracts are much more easier to trade in the NBA and have value to many teams trying to clear cap.

Trading Jackson right now with two years left on his contract, getting paid 17 million this year and 18 million next year will likely only happen if the Pistons are losing the trade.

The trade would legit probably be the Pistons convincing a team to trade for him by attaching picks or young assets, not getting much on court value in return.

The Detroit Pistons should absolutely be aggressive from now until February 7th. Trading an asset or a pick for a better point guard or wing player is definitely something Ed Stefanski should be considering.

Heck, if there’s some sucker out there that will take Jackson and an asset and give the Pistons good value in return, obviously pull the trigger.

But, I highly doubt that’s going to happen.

So, should the Detroit Pistons make a trade? Probably.

But, they should also be considering waiting for the off-season; where Jackson, Leuer, and Langston Galloway all become expiring contracts.