The Detroit Pistons will likely be sellers before the NBA trade deadline hits next month.
They are one of the worst teams in the NBA by design, as they are trying to land a top pick to add another cornerstone to the rebuild.
The Pistons could be active players in trades, as they have veterans who can still play and aren’t making much money, which should keep Troy Weaver’s phone ringing.
The Pistons don’t really have to do anything, as things are going as planned this season. They are losing competitively and getting their young guys big minutes, so the season can be considered a success even though they are in last place.
But they can pick up a few assets at the trade deadline if things work out.
Here are three things that will be on their wishlist as the NBA trade deadline approaches.
Can the Detroit Pistons trade Blake Griffin?
The biggest longshot wish is that the Detroit Pistons find a team desperate enough to trade for Blake Griffin.
At this point, Griffin is “untradable’ which is why they should consider sitting him more often, playing him in shorter bursts and showcasing him some as a stretch-five.
If he can prove himself at least able to help someone’s bench, then the Detroit Pistons might get lucky and find a team that will take him off their hands.
It’s not likely though, so the Pistons are probably stuck with Blake Griffin until next season’s trade deadline, but we can wish, no?
Detroit Pistons: The Pistons need shooters and shot blockers
In a recent article, I outlined the types of players that the Detroit Pistons should seek in any Derrick Rose trade.
The two biggest needs are to find a young shooter and someone who can block shots, as the Pistons are terrible in both categories.
They are currently 26th in the NBA in 3-point percentage and have only two players (Jerami Grant and Wayne Ellington) who are shooting 40 percent or above.
Svi Mykhailiuk has been awful. Saddiq Bey has cooled after a hot start and the Detroit Pistons don’t really have anyone else who is considered a plus-shooter.
If they do make a trade, they should target a young project who can shoot.
If not, shot-blocking is another area of weakness that should be on the Pistons’ wishlist. Detroit is 19th in the NBA in blocked shots and doesn’t really have anyone who can be considered a rim protector.
This is leading to too many easy buckets in the paint and is one of the reasons the Pistons struggle at times to get stops.
If and when Detroit trades some of their veterans away, they need to try and bring back some players who can shoot or block shots.
Detroit Pistons: Getting the best trade package for Derrick Rose
Derrick Rose is the Pistons’ best trade asset and they need to try and maximize his value.
There have already been several teams reportedly expressing interest in Rose but Weaver needs to get creative if he wants to get the best deal.
This potentially means using Derrick Rose as part of a bigger trade where the Pistons help facilitate a blockbuster with their team-friendly veteran contracts.
This could also mean sitting Rose more often to ensure that he is healthy at the deadline, as the Pistons cannot afford to let him walk for nothing.
I am sure Troy Weaver has taken a lot of calls on Rose at this point and has a good idea of what he might fetch in a trade so he should be patient but ready to pounce.
If one of the contending teams has an injury or is desperate for bench scoring, then they might overpay for Derrick Rose.
Timing is going to be everything when it comes to trading Rose.
The Detroit Pistons dont’ have much on their wishlist, but they’d love to find a team for Blake Griffin (unlikely), some young shooters and the best possible deal for Derrick Rose.