Detroit Pistons: Trade, Pending or Core? Where each Piston fits

The Detroit Pistons are rebuilding and as they do, they will have decisions to make on certain players.

Troy Weaver has done a great job so far, grabbing low-cost free agents who look like assets, snagging a star in free agency and getting talent in the draft.

The Pistons have an interesting mix of veterans and young guys that can be placed into three different categories.

The first category is one I’d call “Trade.” These are the guys the Pistons would either love to deal before the deadline or would at least consider moving in the right deal.

The second category is “Pending.” These are the guys who the Pistons are not sure about yet, but who are worth taking a long look at for the rest of this season and maybe next.

The final category is “Core.” These are the guys who the Detroit Pistons envision being part of the long-term future of the team.

Here is where each player fits.

Detroit Pistons: Can the Pistons trade Derrick Rose and Blake Griffin?

Trade Now

• Blake Griffin
• Derrick Rose

There are really only two players who the Pistons would love to unload as soon as possible and they are Blake Griffin and Derrick Rose.

Griffin not only has one of the worst contracts in the league but is playing badly while blocking Sekou Doumbouya from getting minutes.

He’s going to be tough to move.

Derrick Rose, on the other hand, should be able to net an asset in a trade and will almost certainly be gone before the deadline.

Sub-category: Character vets

• Mason Plumlee
• Delon Wright
• Wayne Ellington
• Jahlil Okafor

The Detroit Pistons also have some low-cost veterans who might attract attention in a trade. All of these guys are good veterans to have around, so the Pistons probably aren’t actively shopping them, but they would listen.

Every team needs guys like these, as they contribute without taking much off the table and are on team-friendly contracts.