The Detroit Pistons will be monitoring the Deandre Ayton situation in Phoenix closely this season, but would they be willing to trade Isaiah Stewart to get him?
I do think Ayton is a guy the Pistons will pursue, but the question is whether they will wait and make a run at him in free agency, or try to skip all of that and make a trade.
On one hand, it would be foolish for the Pistons to give up anything for a guy who they might be able to steal away on the restricted free-agent market just by using some of their copious amounts of cap space next offseason.
On the other, if Ayton does make it to free agency, there will be a lot of teams competing for his services, so the Detroit Pistons could get an advantage by trading for him this season and then re-signing him to a max extension themselves.
But would they be willing to give up Isaiah Stewart to get it done? It would take more than Stewart alone obviously, but the Suns would probably look to replace Ayton at center in any trade and Stewart is an All-Rookie who would almost certainly be part of any deal.
Here are some things to think about.
Detroit Pistons: Isaiah Stewart, Deandre Ayton and what we don’t know
What we know right now is that Isaiah Stewart is 20-years-old and Ayton is 23, an age difference that is not profound but can’t be ignored.
Mostly because we don’t yet know what Stewart can be, as he’s only had one year in the league and has already shown a lot of high-ceiling potential. Could he be the next Bam Adebayo for the Pistons? It’s possible.
But the same could be said of Ayton, who has already had a season where he averaged 18.2 points and 11.5 rebounds, something Stewart may never achieve. Ayton has been a key piece on a Finals team and I think most would agree that his overall ceiling is higher than Stewart’s.
But that is not a given, so the Pistons would be taking the risk that Stewart ends up having another level or two while Ayton pretty much is what he is.
What about the cost?
The Pistons have Stewart locked up through the 2023-24 season on a rookie deal, while Ayton will be seeking the max, and let’s face it, giving it to him would be the only way the Pistons would be able to keep him.
Ayton is eligible for a $172.5 million max extension, which is a lot of money to tie up in a center who is not named Joel Embiid. But could Ayton become an Embiid-level talent? The Detroit Pistons would be betting that he will, as giving him that contract would make him part of the core moving forward, their highest paid player and the guy they are now building around with Cade Cunningham.
Ayton is a nice fit with Cunningham but is he the second-best player on a title contender? Isaiah Stewart may never be as good as Ayton, but he also won’t ever cost as much, so the Pistons might be better off investing their resources elsewhere and just keeping Stewart on what will likely be a much cheaper second contract than Ayton’s max.
Detroit Pistons: Is Isaiah Stewart good enough to be a Finals’ center?
We know that a team with Deandre Ayton at center can make the Finals, as the Suns did it last year.
He is a quality defender already, a very good shot blocker, rebounder and can dominate on the post. Ayton has also shown the ability to hit the mid-range jumper, and as his range increases, so will his value.
While Stewart is a very nice player with a high ceiling as well, he doesn’t have Ayton’s size and it’s still unclear if he can be much of a threat on offense. Of course, Stewart could blow up this season and put those fears to rest and I hope he does, as I’d love to see a homegrown talent become a star for Detroit.
It’s a tough call, but one the Pistons might have to make if they want to get Deandre Ayton. Assuming the Pistons have assurances that Ayton will sign the max, would you make Beef Stew available in a trade? Let me know what you think in the comments.