Which trade could the Detroit Pistons benefit from the most?

Detroit Pistons fans (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images)
Detroit Pistons fans (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images)
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Detroit Pistons Blake Griffin. (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images)

Bradley Beal at a cost

Granted this deal includes a caveat that Bradley Beal signs the three-year, $111 million extension he was recently offered by the Wizards, but this is a deal that doesn’t seem terribly far-fetched.

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But then you throw Luke Kennard in and it’s somewhat surprising. A straight-up deal, Beal-for-Blake Griffin, has some intrigue. It would create a different outlook on the Pistons that hasn’t been explored too much.

The argument could be made that the Pistons aren’t getting enough back if they deal Griffin, coming off arguably the best year of his career. Even if it is for a two-way star such as Beal.

Pairing Beal with Andre Drummond, who is a possibility to be traded depending on the Pistons’ season, would maximize floor spacing on the wing. The idea of having Beal and Snell together would create a quality defensive pairing, allowing Snell to work off the ball. Jackson could share ball-handling responsibilities with Beal to create penetration and draw help, the same way Derrick Rose could assist the offense.

There could be a corresponding move that would create more frontcourt depth. Morris would slide into the starting power forward role. Johnson and Wood could both provide needed frontcourt depth, too.

The more I think about it, the more intriguing it is. Though, admittedly, it seems unlikely that this would happen.

This seems wild to fathom. It took awhile to sort out in my mind what the Pistons would be left with. C.J. Miles isn’t an upgrade over Snell and though Mo Wagner may be an upgrade at backup center, he isn’t a proven big that helps the Pistons compete now. Of course, there’s an opportunity that he could be solid in limited minutes, but to deal that much to include him and Miles is insane.

While this deal offers the Wizards plenty of cap relief, there aren’t a lot of great assets coming their way, especially if the Pistons are going to be in the playoffs with a core of Beal, Griffin and Drummond.

This seems rather unlikely, though Beal in Detroit would be nice.