4 thoughts regarding the Detroit Pistons and 2020 NBA trade deadline

Detroit Pistons Luke Kennard. (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
Detroit Pistons Luke Kennard. (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
1 of 5
Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons Luke Kennard. (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

The NBA trade deadline is under 36 hours away and the Detroit Pistons are expected to be players. Here are some thoughts ahead of the deadline.

The clock is ticking and now that the trade market has been opened up to a four-team blockbuster, attention can again turn on the Detroit Pistons.

It was 24 hours prior that the Pistons were the center of the trade universe when Luke Kennard was thought to be going to the Phoenix Suns. Perhaps it’s still in play but all is quiet. But the blockbuster may open up trade negotiations as teams get desperate with the deadline clock getting louder.

Some housekeeping beforehand, the latest report impacting the Pistons surrounds forward Markieff Morris, who could play as a small-ball center. The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor mentioned the Nuggets and Rockets have interest in him.

He’s on an affordable $3.2 million contract and has a player option for $3.6 million next season, but he’s played his way to potentially earning more than that in a weaker free agent class. Nonetheless, his contract is affordable for every team that could have interest in him.

Morris is added to the list of affordable Pistons available in trades. It’s a list that includes Kennard, Derrick Rose and Langston Galloway.

Andre Drummond has been implicated in rumors since early January but his market may be closing with the Hawks acquiring Clint Capela early Wednesday morning. But that may have opened up a bidding war for teams looking for a two-way center and the league’s best rebounder. The lone competition on the center market is Tristan Thompson, who makes $10 million less and isn’t as effective.

Detroit (18-34) is five games behind the Orlando Magic for the eight seed, Blake Griffin is likely out for the season after undergoing a second knee surgery in eight months and the Pistons have lost seven of their last nine. Moving forward, the Pistons are expected to be active in trade discussions leading up to Thursday’s 3 p.m. deadline.

Here are five thoughts surrounding possible trades.