2020 NBA Draft: Should Detroit Pistons try for Boston’s triple play?

Rose & No. 7 to Celtics?

The Celtics were hurt by a lack of depth in its loss to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference finals. If the top guns were not making their shots, they did not really have a Plan B off the bench.

With Gordon Hayward missing most of the playoffs with an ankle injury, their depth were really stretched thin.

Derrick Rose would provide instant offense off the bench. He is a player who does not need a strong surrounding cast to be effective. As a veteran, he would have no playoff jitters. The Celtics would take Rose with open arms.

Now, with a player involved in the trade, matching salaries (within 25% of each other) are needed. The Celtics have a very top heavy payroll, so they would have to throw in two players to match Rose’s $7.6 million salary.

And you know Weaver is going to demand a young player with promise.

Trade with Celtics including Rose:

In addition to the three first-rounders, the Pistons get a legitimate center in Enes Kanter (if lacking in defense). He provides insurance in case Detroit can not get Christian Wood to return.

Romeo Langford did not get much court time with the Celtics in his rookie season. With Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Hayward and Marcus Smart at wing, there was not much available playing time remaining. He played in only 32 games and averaged 2.5 points.

But Langford checks off a lot of boxes for the youth-oriented Pistons. He is an athletic 6-foot-6 shooting guard – they could use one of those – thought to have potential, and he just turned 21 years old.

He was the 14th overall selection in the 2019 NBA Draft, a draft deeper than this years. It is almost like getting an extra first-rounder this year.

Remember, Rose is on the last year of his contract, so he is not in the long term plans of Detroit as it is. Of course, he helps the team this year with his play and leadership. The Pistons are not going to just give him away.

In the short-term, losing Rose will undoubtedly hurt. However, adding a young lottery-draft prospect like Langford into the mix, could help the Pistons long-term.

At least the Pistons will not have to start Justin Patton at center with Kanter on the roster.

Without Rose, Blake Griffin might be open to a trade, as it would be just him and a bunch of kids this upcoming season.

Would Danny Ainge be interested in adding Griffin to the Celtics? You bet. Troy Weaver just has to make it worth it for the Pistons.