The Pistons and Mavericks could be future trade partners
The Detroit Pistons are still rebuilding and aren’t really in a position to make a blockbuster trade.
As much as people have talked about the possibility of swapping a package centered around Jerami Grant for Ben Simmons, I don’t see this as a realistic option and may not be the best move for the Pistons anyway considering their offensive struggles.
It’s far more likely that the Pistons will make a low-stakes move to balance their roster or take a chance on a young prospect who might not be getting a chance on his current team.
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The Pistons have a big man problem, as they were thin at the position even before Kelly Olynyk got hurt and Isaiah Stewart got suspended.
They don’t have the contracts or coveted veteran contributors to make a splashy trade, and THEY CAN’T TRADE NEWLY ACQUIRED PLAYERS UNTIL DECEMBER 15TH (sorry for the caps but I had to put that in for the mansplainers who love to tell me 25 times in the comments).
Fans who are hoping for a big trade will be disappointed, but the Pistons do have some needs that they could try to fill before the trade deadline this season.
What do the Detroit Pistons need?
The truth is that the Pistons don’t need much other than experience. They have a core of players in Cade Cunningham, Saddiq Bey, Isaiah Stewart and Killian Hayes who simply need time to develop and get better.
But there are a few glaring weaknesses of the roster.
The Pistons need more big man depth, specifically someone who can block shots, catch a lob and run the floor. The Pistons are short on athleticism behind Beef Stew and adding another young big to the roster would be nice. Of course, the Pistons can just wait and try to draft the guy, so there is no real pressure to make a move.
The Pistons also need shooting, as they are dead last in the NBA in 3-point percentage, which means they aren’t taking advantage of Cunningham and Hayes’ ability to pass the ball and set up teammates. The duo is averaging 17.1 potential assists per game between them, mostly because their teammates are shooting at a historically bad clip.
There is one team out there who has these types of players, and that is the Dallas Mavericks, who could be a future trade partner with the Pistons.