What Pistons players are truly off-limits at trade deadline?

Players the Detroit Pistons will listen with open ears about trading

Now, if general manager Troy Weaver wants to get rid of a player, he can do so easily, witness the Bol Bol-Rodney McGruder trade (although Detroit ended up getting McGruder back). We are not talking about the Pistons setting up a fire sale, where everything must go.

But there are some players on the roster who could draw some interest from other teams, and the team might benefit more from what they get in return than keeping the player for the future.

We are not going to go through players who have negligible trade value. Luka Garza and Jamorko Pickett are young players who might hold some promise, but other teams are not going to trade specifically for them.

Also, Isaiah Stewart and Killian Hayes have far more value as developing players for Detroit than as trade bait. Having both been drafted in the first round, it would more beneficial to have them work on their respective games, than what little right now they would get in a trade.

Players Detroit Pistons could get calls for:

Cory Joseph

A veteran point guard with a ring is always useful for team’s entering the playoffs. After a slow start where many Pistons fans were hoping he would get traded or released – anything to get him off the team – Joseph has played well.

Coach Dwane Casey has used Joseph rather than Killian Hayes in many games down the stretch, relying on his veteran presence to aid the other young players.

Joseph is also having his best year shooting from long distance in his 10-year career. The 6-foot-3 guard is making 44-percent of his three-point attempts, a 10-percent increase from his career average. Obviously, being able to hit from beyond the arc makes Joseph even a more valuable commodity.

Joseph is a mentor to young guards Killian Hayes, Cade Cunningham and Saben Lee, which is a quite valuable contribution as well. However, Joseph is 30-years-old, and by the time Detroit will be championship contenders, will be long gone.

Having Joseph is nice, but he is a luxury. If a team gave the Pistons a couple of second-rounders, he probably would be gone.

Trey Lyles

Lyles is a big who can shoot the three, a quality always in demand. If the price for Olynyk becomes too steep, an NBA team might inquire about Lyles.

Although he came here after a rocky season in San Antonio, Lyles has played well. Forced into playing a lot of center due to injuries to Kelly Olynyk and Jerami Grant, Lyles is scoring in double-digits for the first time in his career (10.0 points). He has posted several games over 20 points.

If his three-point shooting returns to his average (now at 28/5%, career 34%), Lyles would prove even more valuable to a team looking for frontcourt depth.

Lyles has professed his happiness in Detroit (apologizing for past slander of the city) so, like others, the Pistons are under no pressure to trade him. But if the right offer is made, Lyles could be moving on.