5 trades for Detroit Pistons point guard Derrick Rose

4. Land of 10,000 Roses

All of a sudden the Minnesota Timberwolves are without a legitimate threat at point guard, yet are 4 1/2 games behind the surging Grizzlies for a playoff spot. Minnesota will need to act quickly or they will continue to slide in the difficult Western Conference.

Rose averaged 18 points per game while shooting a career-best 37% from 3-point range with the Wolves. Minnesota has floor-spacing issues as the second-worst shooting team in the league, converting 32.6% from 3-point range.

If Detroit was willing to take on a contract to free up space in 2021 and ship another asset back in Langston Galloway, both teams could come away with a win-win scenario. Galloway would significantly improve Minnesota on the wing and provide floor-spacing for Karl-Anthony Towns.

The Pistons could take on Gorgui Dieng, who is owed $16.2 million next season. He’s played in 37 games, starting 17, and is averaging 8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 0.9 steals and 0.9 blocks per game playing, on average, 18.3 minutes. He’d become a valuable player for the Pistons when they inevitably trade Andre Drummond.

Keita Bates-Diop was the 48th pick in the 2018 NBA Draft and has been a solid rotational player. He’s averaging 7.1 points and 3 rebounds per game this season. He’s only shooting 41.8% from the field but is shooting 36.4% from 3-point range. At 6-foot-8, 229 pounds, Bates-Diop has the athletic frame to defend multiple positions.

Minnesota adds on their 2020 1st in confidence that they can make a push for the playoffs while taking two strong assets from Detroit, and also making a dent in the Pistons free agent pool, if only delaying it by a year.