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Any chance Detroit Pistons get James Harden?

By Stuart London

HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 14: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets handles the ball against the Detroit Pistons on December 14, 2019 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Cato Cataldo/NBAE via Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 14: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets handles the ball against the Detroit Pistons on December 14, 2019 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Cato Cataldo/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Detroit Pistons guard Derrick Rose (25) shoots the ball as Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) defends. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Detroit Pistons guard Derrick Rose (25) shoots the ball as Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) defends. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

Get Harden and just win baby – but not easily

Rebuilding can be a slow and steady process, and that appears to be the path the Detroit Pistons are currently on. Of course, there is nothing wrong with quickening the pace.

How about a healthy Blake Griffin plus Derrick Rose combining with James Harden? Now, it would be fun to face Milwaukee or Boston in the playoffs with those guys.

This is not quite as easy to pull off due to Harden’s humongous salary. Additionally, the Pistons already owe the Rockets a first-round pick as part of the Isaiah Stewart trade, which gums up a bit the trading of draft choices.

But it can be done. It might affect the Pistons depth, but the Lakers seemed to do quite well in the playoffs relying on just two guys.

If Harden wants to go to a contender, Detroit suddenly becomes one with him onboard.

Jerami, we hardly knew you. But if it gets Detroit a superstar like  James Harden, bye, bye.

Detroit guarantees Houston they will get their first-round pick next year. It is currently heavily protected for the next few years. They also throw in a first-rounder for a few years from now. One would expect that will not be a high pick.

To make salaries match, Mason Plumlee might also have to be thrown in there, but it is not like the Pistons are short on centers.

Assuming Plumlee still is with the team, the Pistons roll out a lineup of Harden, Rose, Griffin, Plumlee and Saddiq Bey. That is three perennial all-stars, a great role player whose team made the West finals last year and a former NCAA champion.

That is a team that could play with anyone in the NBA. It would be the most fun Pistons team fans have seen since 2008.

And Detroit gets to keep all of its rookies and first-year players, plus most of the vets to help in the playoffs.

Now, realistically, for Houston to go for this would mean they were desperate to get out of the Harden mess and move on. Of course, that could certainly happen.

Next. Detroit Pistons: Predicting the 5 most Impactful players. dark

The odds of James Harden ending up this year in a Pistons uniform are not high, but it is not impossible.

There are ways, as have been shown, to make it work. GM Troy Weaver can make the call ‘Houston, you have a problem. I can fix it’.