Detroit Pistons: 3 drastic changes the Pistons should consider
Detroit Pistons: Make a Blockbuster Trade
The Sixers have demanded a treasure chest in return for disgruntled star Ben Simmons, but as his trade value continues to plummet the Pistons can get a more reasonable price for him. Now, they can’t just trade Grant for Simmons straight up. One is a tried and tested role player who has struggled to be “the guy” and the other is a perennial All-Star and Defensive Player of the Year candidate. The Sixers would demand at least one first-round pick, and the Pistons do not have a pick to trade because their 2022 pick belongs to the Thunder (top-16 protected).
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Instead of the Detroit Pistons getting hung to dry and giving up way too much for Ben Simmons, I propose a three-way trade, just as an example of what the trade might look like.
The Sixers would get a defensive stopper in Grant to pair with Embiid and a three-and-D player in Lu Dort. The Thunder do have to give up one of their better players but receive a veteran shooter who could definitely help develop Killian Hayes into something that he may never become in Detroit.
At the end of all this chaos, the Pistons will have the tallest backcourt in the league, and with Simmons handling the ball, it would give Cade a few seasons to gain NBA-level confidence. He could get to his spot and Simmons could dish him an easy assist to hit a shot, or he could drive to the rack himself. Add in two shooters in Luka Garza and Saddiq Bey, and a lob threat in Stewart, and the Pistons immediately have one of the best young lineups in the entire league, without mortgaging their upcoming drafts.
Of course, Simmons has proven himself to be difficult to work with in Philadelphia, but a change of scenery and getting to be “the man” until Cade starts showing greatness might be the key to a change in attitude.
Adding an elite ball-handler like Simmons would elevate the number of open looks Cade gets just because of the attention Simmons gets as he drives, so Cade can start to knock down more shots.
It would be a risky move for the Detroit Pistons, as they would be committing to Simmons long-term, but it is a way to get another start to Detroit without mortgaging the future.