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Detroit Pistons: Navigating the 2019 Trade Deadline

By Ben Lanza

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 3: Andre Drummond #0 and Blake Griffin #23 of the Detroit Pistons look on prior to the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on November 3, 2018 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 3: Andre Drummond #0 and Blake Griffin #23 of the Detroit Pistons look on prior to the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on November 3, 2018 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Buy

If the Pistons were to buy at the deadline, it would mean they are pushing a lot of their chips into this season and possibly the next. A buy-trade for the Pistons would be a deal acquiring a player that would make them significantly better now; players like Mike Conley, Jeremy Lin, Kent Bazemore, Courtney Lee, Tim Hardaway Jr., and even Bradley Beal.

All of the players mentioned above would go a long way towards upgrading the back-court, which the Pistons desperately need. The price for these players is what makes any of these buy trades extremely risky. The asset that most teams will likely try to pry from the Pistons is their first round pick, which right now would be 9th overall. Given the lack of young talent on this team, that pick could end up being very valuable to them. Out of the players mentioned above, I would only give that pick up for Beal or Conley.

The player that I think makes the most sense is Jeremy Lin. Lin solves a lot of the back-court issues, and might not come at a price of one of the Pistons two prized assets (first round pick and Luke Kennard). While Lin may end up being only a rental for this season, he would be an immediate upgrade at point guard for the team.

The Pistons are getting an MVP-like performance from Blake Griffin this season, and getting another star would help them capitalize on the rest of his prime. Adding someone who can generate offense for himself would solve a lot of the team’s problems on the offensive end. Getting a legitimate second star would almost certainly cost a first round pick and/or Kennard. The Pistons need to be confident that the player they acquire will get them into the playoffs, or they will end up losing another valuable lottery pick.

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