The Detroit Pistons have had a relatively quiet offseason after they were a part of several moves around the 2022 NBA Draft.
The Pistons added a trio of veterans in a salary dump move by the Knicks, who sent Nerlens Noel, Alec Burks and Kemba Walker into Detroit’s cap space, players who would seem to help balance a very young roster.
But that could be about to change according to one Eastern Conference executive, who spoke with Heavy.com and named the Pistons as a possible landing spot for Russell Westbrook of the Lakers, though this was all speculation.
It’s no secret that the Lakers want to move Westbrook, who was not a great fit with LeBron James and Anthony Davis even though he played 78 games and averaged over 18 points per game. He’s due $47 million in the final year of his deal and the Lakers would rather spread that money around to add more depth to a top-heavy roster.
My first instinct about trading for Russell Westbrook is to scream “NOOOOOOOOOOO!” and run out of the room. But depending on the Pistons’ goals for next season, and the possible payoff, it’s an idea worth exploring.
Detroit Pistons: Trading for Russell Westbrook
Detroit would have to send a package of players to the Lakers and would undoubtedly want a future unprotected first-round pick to take on Westbrook’s contract, which is one of the costliest in the league.
Here is one possibility:
In this trade, the Pistons send four veteran players in exchange for Westbrook and a future 1st-round pick from the Lakers.
From the Lakers’ perspective, a deal like this makes sense, as Noel is a good fit with Davis and Olynyk and Burks would give them more depth and shooting around their two superstars.
Even Kemba Walker is the type of player the LeBron-era Lakers have gone after in the past, a veteran who knows how to win and will accept a lesser role to chase a ring. The Pistons have been dragging their heels on a buyout for Walker, possibly because they want to use his contract in a trade.
The question is whether the Lakers want to get rid of Westbrook badly enough that they would give up an asset to do it, as that pick could be a high one depending on how things shake out over the next few seasons. The Lakers will likely be rebuilding themselves by that point, but their ability to draw free agents has always made the future something they don’t have to worry about.
Their window is right now, so this makes sense for them, but what about the Pistons, would they consider this type of trade?
Detroit Pistons: Trading for Russell Westbrook
The Pistons have been down this road with Blake Griffin, taking on an aging veteran on a huge contact that they ended up paying to play for another team.
It’s hard to see how Westbrook would fit into a lineup surrounded by all young players, and it’s unclear whether they would even want that, as his presence could potentially take minutes from their young guys, particularly Jaden Ivey, who many have compared to Westbrook.
That leaves the possibility of a buyout, but would Tom Gores really be willing to eat $47 million just to get a first-round pick? It’s not my money, so I don’t care, but that’s a big chunk even for a billionaire like Gores.
A trade like this would pretty much be giving up on next season, as it would make the Pistons the youngest team in the league and thrust young guys into roles that they might not be ready for. If everything went perfectly next season, the Pistons could compete for the play-in and get valuable experience for their young players and then have the cap space next summer to add an impact free agent.
Not buying out Westbrook could prove to be even more unpalatable, as he would undoubtedly take shots from both Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey, the two guys Detroit is rebuilding their future around.
I think some of the narrative around Westbrook’s decline has been somewhat overblown, but he is a shot chucker and a guy who likes to have the ball in his hands. He can’t shoot the 3-point shot and it’s hard to imagine how he would fit onto a Pistons’ roster that already has two playmaking guards.
It’s hard to see Westbrook accepting a bench role, so the Pistons would either have to pay nearly $50 million for a guy who isn’t even on the team, or potentially risk the development of their young players while giving up on the next season before it even starts.
But what if the Detroit Pistons weren’t really planning on winning anyway?
Detroit Pistons: Trading for Russell Westbrook
One of the biggest arguments this offseason is whether the Detroit Pistons should be tanking one more season or if they should try to fight for the play-in tournament. This debate intensified after Cleveland traded for Donovan Mitchell, making the Central Division even tougher.
There is also the matter next year’s draft, as there is a potential generational talent in Victor Wembanyama and plenty of fans would love for the Pistons to tank for one more season for a chance at the Wembanyama sweepstakes.
Trading for Westbrook would certainly accomplish that goal, as it would leave the Pistons without any veteran depth and put them more in line with teams like Houston, San Antonio and Oklahoma City as the youngest in the league.
Young teams don’t usually win and this would be one way to ensure the Pistons were in the running for a top pick.
But that isn’t the only benefit. You could argue that this would be the best thing for the young players, as it would guarantee they would all get big minutes, and give the Pistons a chance to try out a number of different possibilities.
Guys like Isaiah Livers, Hamidou Diallo, Jalen Duren and Kevin Knox would all have bigger roles without those veterans in the way, all of whom are guys that are on short-term deals and not part of Detroit’s long-term plans anyway.
Then there’s the matter of the pick. It’s very possible that the Lakers will stink by 2027 and that the Pistons will actually be good, so this would give them a chance to add another high pick to a team that is already in the playoffs (hopefully) which is how you build sustained success.
If the Pistons were willing to buy Westbrook out, allowing the young guys to play big minutes the whole season, possibly set themselves up for another top-5 pick and get another one in the future, it actually makes a whole lot of sense.
As much as I would hate punting on another season, it’s very possible Detroit wasn’t going to be good anyway, so this would give them a chance to get big developmental minutes for their guys while maxing out their chances for a star in the lottery.
I hate tanking, but I may have talked myself into this one, but only if Tom Gores is willing to spend $47 million to make Westbrook go away.