Why it makes no sense for the Detroit Pistons to trade for this center

The NBA free agent market for centers may benefit the Detroit Pistons

It would also be smart to see how the free agent market shakes out before they make any kind of commitment to a guy like Mitchell Robinson.

Centers like him have not been getting big deals lately, as more and more teams look for versatile bigs who can shoot over guys who mostly dunk and block shots.

Rim protection is still important, but you don’t necessarily have to pay a premium to get it, as there are plenty of low-cost bigs out there who can block shots.

Centers have become like running backs in the NFL: There are a couple of elite ones but also a lot of interchangeable guys with similar levels of talent, and you don’t want to overpay for one of those.

The Pistons don’t have to act like a desperate suitor, hoping Robinson chooses them because they showed some interest. They can just wait and see how the market shakes out, and if Robinson costs too much they can move onto the next guy.

There’s no reason to start the clock on Robinson now, as it will cost them assets and he could just leave after the season anyway.

The Pistons absolutely need a big man, but there are lots of ways to get one, including just waiting until the offseason, when the price for Robinson could be low.