Detroit Pistons: Looking ahead to potential trade deadline wishlist

The Ball Trade

Jackson is an unrestricted free agent next summer and there isn’t much on the free agent market that would be a long term solution at point guard. If the Pistons stumble out of the gate or suffer injuries that cause them to slide in the rankings, it may be wise for them to be proactive in search of a young ball handler.

Lonzo Ball is in a unique situation, having been traded to a new team, and having that new team draft an impressive rookie at his position. Additionally, the Pelicans have Jrue Holiday, J.J. Redick, and Josh Hart crowding the guard rotation.

Theoretically, Ball should be a great fit in New Orleans if they decide to play a fast-paced, defensive-minded style. Yet, it’s plausible a scenario arises where the Pelicans want to give Nickeil Alexander-Walker more playing time alongside Holiday and Redick, causing Ball to become available.

Ball’s fit with Griffin isn’t ideal because of Ball’s lack of perimeter shooting. However, he is a very strong guard defender, playmaker, and rebounding guard. Pistons fans were excited about Bruce Brown’s playmaking ability during Summer League that could potentially add to his staunch defense.

Ball is a better playmaker and equivalent to, if not better than, Brown on the defensive end. While Ball isn’t known for his perimeter shooting, he shot it over 7 percent better than Brown from deep last year. Ball is also one year younger than Brown, too.

If Pistons fans are excited about Brown, they should be even more excited if the Pistons were to acquire Ball.

Jahlil Okafor is a part of this trade primarily for salary purposes, but he would provide a center-sized backup that the Pistons don’t have at the moment, especially if they decide to keep Beasley over Wood.