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Five Transactions that Explain the Current Detroit Pistons

By Sean Murphy

BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 22: Luke Kennard smiles with Adam Silver after being the 11th overall selected by the Detroit Pistons at the 2017 NBA Draft on June 22, 2017 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 22: Luke Kennard smiles with Adam Silver after being the 11th overall selected by the Detroit Pistons at the 2017 NBA Draft on June 22, 2017 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Luke Kennard smiles with Adam Silver after being the 11th overall selected by the Detroit Pistons (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Breaking down five transactions that have put the Detroit Pistons in the position they’re in today.

The Detroit Pistons are currently breaking NBA records for the wrong reasons. Detroit is currently experiencing the longest playoff win drought in the history of the league, with their last playoff win came against the Celtics on May 26th 2008 (I was 11, not that I’m keeping track…)

There are a lot of factors that lead to this drought, as the Pistons have lacked in star power and young prospects, playing in a conference that has been dominated by the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James. The NBA has evolved over the past twelve years, and the Pistons have struggled to adapt alongside the league.

You can look at a lot of factors as to why the Pistons are where they are at, but I believe that you can explain the current state of the Detroit Pistons with five transactions. These are made up of free agent signings, trades, and of course, draft picks.

Also. NBC Sports Chicago airs 'D Rose week'. light

Before we start the list, one honorable mention to the signings of Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva, which messed up the Pistons cap space, but doesn’t quite tell the story of how the Pistons are where they’re at right now.

Having said that, here are the five transactions that define the current Detroit Pistons.

1. The Detroit Pistons trade Chauncey Billups and Antonio McDyess to the Denver Nuggets for Allen Iverson.

On November 3rd 2008, the Detroit Pistons made a statement by trading their NBA Finals MVP point guard to the Denver Nuggets along with Antonio McDyess for Iverson.

The Pistons have gone multiple years without making it back to the finals, and Pistons President Joe Dumars decided to try and add some star power to the aging Pistons roster.

Iverson was a multiple time all star leading up to this season, and came to Detroit with the potential ability to add much needed scoring talent alongside Richard Hamilton for a lethal back court combination.

Even though Iverson had an all star season averaging 26.4 points per game, he did not buy into the Pistons way of playing and was a defensive liability on the court.

Head Coach Michael Curry wanted to bench Iverson and bring Rodney Stuckey into the starting lineup, which was a change that Iverson did not agree with. The result was a Pistons team that never gelled and they went from the top of the eastern conference to the eighth seed in the eastern conference.

Iverson only lasted one season in Detroit, proving to be a failed experiment, and the Pistons have only made the playoffs twice since, not winning a playoff game since Billups was on the roster.

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