The Detroit Pistons are looking for potential stars and there might be one available in Lonzo Ball.
The Detroit Pistons will always struggle to add elite free agents, which is why trading for a star is their best chance to get one. Lonzo Ball may not be a star yet, but he has potential and might be availalbe.
The New Orleans Pelicans are off to a slow start and Lonzo Ball has not played well in Stan Van Gundy’s new offense.
SVG has largely taken the ball out of Lonzo’s hands in favor of Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, the two cornerstones of their franchise.
This is not a good situation for Lonzo Ball, who is a pass-first point guard who needs the ball in his hands to be effective.
The Pelicans also lack depth off their bench, so the Pistons might be able to pry Lonzo Ball away without giving too much away.
Detroit Pistons: What a Lonzo Ball trade would look like
The Pelicans would love to get Saddiq Bey or maybe even Mason Plumlee from the Pistons, but Bey ain’t happening and Plumlee is not enough to get Lonzo Ball.
Here is a trade that could work for both teams:
In this trade, the Pelicans add two scorers to their bench depth, as well as a protected 1st round pick.
The Pistons get to take a chance on a potential star point guard who fits with what they already have and could be part of the core if he decides to stay.
Lonzo Ball wants to be the star of a team, that much is clear. What is also clear is that isn’t going to happen on the Pelicans.
Would he prefer to be the centerpiece of a rebuild? Would the Pelicans even be interested?