The Detroit Pistons have been mentioned in a number of trade rumors as the deadline approaches.
The most recent came from Brian Windhorst of ESPN, who said the Detroit Pistons were “lurking” around soon-to-be free agent Victor Oladipo of the Houston Rockets.
Windhorst makes a lot of claims and always cites “sources” to back them up, but to be honest, I haven’t seen many of his predictions come to fruition.
Nevertheless, it is an interesting one, as Oladipo is a talented player on a bad team who will almost certainly seek greener pastures after the season ends when he’ll be a restricted free agent.
Could those greener pastures be in Detroit? There are some things to like about Oladipo’s fit with this group of Detroit Pistons but there is also some potential downside to acquiring him in a trade.
I think these rumors are just that. Just because a team has “interest” in a player does not mean a trade is imminent and I am sure Troy Weaver is making a lot of calls just to gauge what it would take to acquire certain talent.
We broke down the pros and cons of a potential trade for Victor Oladipo, starting with what it might look like.
Detroit Pistons: What would it cost to trade for Victor Oladipo?
Pro: The only way the Detroit Pistons are going to trade for Oladipo is if it is a classic “buy low” situation. He has less than a half season left on his contract and there is no guarantee that he would re-sign with the Detroit Pistons, so Detroit would only do it if there wasn’t much at stake. The pro of Oladipo is that you could get an All-Star talent for cheap.
Con: The Rockets will probably be seeking a 1st-round pick for Oladipo and if so, they are likely to be disappointed. Detroit is not giving up a future lottery pick for a 28-year-old rental.
So what could a “good” trade look like?
If the Detroit Pistons could get Oladipo for expiring contracts and one project player, then it might be worth the gamble, as it’s likely that none of these players have a future in Detroit anyway. Sekou Doumbouya would be the prize here, but there is some risk involved with trading him this early in his career.
Adding Delon Wright to this group might be too much, as he has arguably been better than Oladipo this season.
If Detroit could get their hands on an All-Star talent without giving up any of their future core or a first-round pick, then they might consider it.
But there are still risks.
Detroit Pistons: Would Victor Oladipo fit in Detroit?
Pro: Victor Oladipo is a tough, defensive-minded player who would fit right in with the culture the Pistons are trying to build.
He’s not a great 3-point shooter but does just about everything else well. He can play and defend both guard spots, is a proven 20 points per game scorer and is a good rebounder, passer and defender.
He is still just 28-years-old and could be another veteran presence along with Jerami Grant, who could help take the Detroit Pistons to the next level.
This team is not far from being good, and adding a guy like Oladipo, along with impact talent in the draft, could be enough to get the Pistons into the playoffs as soon as next season. Considering they would still be one of the youngest teams in the NBA, another season of rebuilding may not be necessary.
Con: What type of salary is Oladipo likely to get as a free agent? if the Pistons traded for him they would have his Bird Rights, but would he even be interested in staying? The Pistons would not only have to have some assurance that he would actually want to re-sign in Detroit but also what it would take to retain him.
Oladipo is currently making $21 million and might be looking for a similar deal to finish out his career. Would the Pistons be willing to go that high? It would eat up a lot of salary cap and Oladipo may not be worth it for a team that would be on the fringes of the playoffs either way.
There is a lot to like about Oladipo’s fit as a player in Detroit’s culture but only if he is on a relatively team-friendly deal and that might not be possible.
Detroit Pistons: Oladipo’s mentorship vs. injury history
Pro: I love the way Oladipo plays, especially on the defensive end, and I think the veteran would be a perfect mentor for the Pistons’ young guards. He is also a nice fit with Killian Hayes and would take some of the ball handling duties off the young point guard while also showing him how to play the game the right way.
With Oladipo starting, Delon Wright could be moved to the bench and suddenly the Pistons have a pretty good and deep group of guards to work with. I love a mixture of youth and veteran leaders and think Oladipo would be a positive influence.
Con: Oladipo already has a rich injury history that has followed him just about everywhere he’s been. He has missed at least some time in just about every season of his career, including this one, so the Pistons would be taking a risk on a guy who is not always healthy.
Given that the Pistons have already had a lot of injury issues this season, it may not be wise to invest in a guy who has problems in that area.
The truth is that Victor Oladipo would be a perfect fit on this Detroit Pistons’ team as long as the price is right. If he doesn’t cost them much in a trade and would be willing to sign a team-friendly deal, then he’d be worth the risk.
If not, the Pistons should pass, as they have no reason to invest $20 million a year in a guy whose best days might be behind him, especially as they are trying to rebuild.