Option 1: Trade Blake Griffin
Griffin’s contract may seem immovable, but crazier things have happened. Griffin is owed $36.6 million in 2020-21 and then has a player option of $38.98 million in 2021-22, one that he would likely opt into.
Teams are not lining up at the door to take on this large contract, especially for a player that is such a big injury risk. Although, many thought the same about Drummond and Detroit was able to strike a deal with Cleveland to unload him.
To find a suitor for Griffin, the Pistons would likely have include some package of assets and future draft picks. This would be a tough pill to swallow for fans in Motor City as it is never fun to unload assets while losing the face of the franchise.
If the Pistons were able to trade him this offseason, the immediate future of the Pistons looks bleak, but that isn’t a bad thing. Derrick Rose could be traded as well, likely for future assets or draft capital.
Although it was recently reported, the Pistons told the Lakers that Rose was unavailable at the trade deadline, so Rose could be a part of future plans in Detroit. Next season would be all about developing young talent such as Luke Kennard, Bruce Brown, Sekou Doumbouya, and Christian Wood.
Not to mention, whoever is selected with the pick this upcoming draft.
This option fully embraces the rebuild, something Pistons fans have been clamoring about for years. It would be unlikely to see Detroit in the playoffs for at least a couple of years. However, if done correctly, the front office could hit on draft picks and create a young core a la the Philadelphia 76ers, Memphis Grizzlies, or New Orleans Pelicans.