The Detroit Pistons have a chance to add talent to their roster at this year’s trade deadline in a number of ways.
The most obvious is a trade of Jerami Grant, who could be one of the best players available and might net the Pistons a haul since they have all of the leverage.
The Pistons would likely be seeking a young, NBA-ready talent, an expiring deal and a pick or two for Grant, and there are a lot of possible suitors out there.
The Pistons also have a couple of veterans in Josh Jackson, Cory Joseph, Trey Lyles or even Kelly Olynyk who might draw some interest, though the return would obviously be low compared to what they’d potentially get for Jerami Grant.
There is one player who has been on the rise lately who the Pistons should have some interest in, and that’s Jalen Smith of the Phoenix Suns, who has come on over the last five games and likely isn’t part of the Suns’ future plans.
Jalen Smith should be a target for the Detroit Pistons
After not playing much in his rookie season, or most of this one, power forward Jalen Smith (the 10th pick in the 2020 draft) has been forced into action for the Suns after several of their players entered COVID protocol.
Smith has responded, putting up 15.2 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks for the Suns over the last five games while shooting 36 percent from 3-point range.
The Suns declined Smith’s option for 2022-23 already, which means he will be an unrestricted free agent after this season.
That makes him even less valuable, as the Suns have shown they don’t really want him and any team trading for him will be taking on the risk that he could just walk in free agency. The Suns also need to save money if they want to re-sign Deandre Ayton.
That could put him in play for a trade, whether it’s a blockbuster for Jerami Grant (think Smith, Crowder, filler and a pick) or even for a smaller trade involving some of the Pistons’ role players like Josh Jackson or Trey Lyles.
The questions are whether Smith is really a fit on the Detroit Pistons and if they should risk a trade for a guy who could walk at the end of the season.
How Jalen Smith would fit on the Detroit Pistons
Smith’s fit on the Pistons would largely depend on what they gave up to get him.
If Smith was part of a package for Jerami Grant, then he could slide in at the four, or possibly even the five in some lineups.
If Grant wasn’t part of the trade (which is extremely unlikely given the value of the Pistons’ other trade pieces) then Smith is the backup power forward or center.
We’ve talked a lot about how badly the Pistons need another big, especially one who can protect the rim and catch a lob, which Smith should be able to do.
I also like his potential as a stretch four beside Cade Cunningham, who could use a big who can shoot from distance to create space. Smith would be able to get the reps he needs to develop on the Pistons, which he is probably never going to get with the Suns, who are competing for a title.
Smith is the right age, isn’t going to command a huge salary in free agency, and the Pistons will have the money next offseason to re-sign him if things work out.
It would be a low risk/high reward move for the Detroit Pistons, who should be willing to take flyers on young high-ceiling talent that didn’t pan out for other teams, as it is the best way to get value for a team that is not a free-agent destination.
The risk/reward of Jalen Smith for the Detroit Pistons
If the Pistons were to trade Jerami Grant to the Suns for a package centered around Smith and picks, they would be taking a pretty big risk, as he is still largely unproven.
I am also skeptical of anyone who is playing with Point God Chris Paul, as he makes everyone better, so there is no guarantee that Smith would be good without CP3 setting him up.
But there is a lot of potential upside as well.
The Detroit Pistons could likely re-sign Smith to a team-friendly deal that would allow them to pick up multiple impact free agents with their available cap space.
A guy like him may also make Kelly Olynyk expendable, and as a proven veteran on a good deal, KO would be a nice trade asset for the Pistons in the offseason or even next season before the deadline.
There is also the chance that Smith is good and becomes a valuable stretch big for the Detroit Pistons who is on their timeline and fits with their current needs.
There is definitely some risk involved depending on the trade, but the reward is there too and the Detroit Pistons are the type of team that need to roll the dice on talent since they aren’t always going to draw the top free agents.
If I were Troy Weaver, I’d at least pick up the phone and call the Suns to see what it might take to get Jalen Smith in a trade.