The Detroit Pistons will likely be active at the NBA trade deadline as either a buyer, seller or maybe even both.
Most of the talk so far has revolved around Bojan Bogdanovic, who is having a career season at 33-years-old and would undoubtedly give a boost to just about any contender.
But he’s not the only Piston that could be on the move, and it’s even possible that Detroit will pursue a player themselves according to The Athletic (SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED) who recently did a “Trade Deadline Big Board” in which they ranked players by perceived value and availability. The list included their top-25 targets at the trade deadline.
As expected, the Detroit Pistons were featured prominently, but they were also mentioned a potential buyer, which might surprise some people.
Here are the three Detroit Pistons The Athletic thinks could be traded and the guy they might pursue if the price is right.
Detroit Pistons on the Trade Deadline Big Board
#19: Alec Burks
Burks hasn’t gotten as much attention as his teammate Bogdanovic, but that will likely change as the deadline approaches and teams get more desperate to add depth and shooting for a playoff run.
The Pistons have repeatedly said that they won’t entertain trading Burks unless there is a “tremendous return” though never mentioned specifically what that might be.
The Athletic thinks that “A first-round pick may be too much to expect,” so Detroit would need to get a promising young player at least in return for Burks. If that player is a wing defender, the Pistons should consider it, but if not, his combination of production and team-friendly contract make him a player they should probably keep.
Detroit Pistons on the Trade Deadline Big Board
#15: Saddiq Bey
I was surprised to see Bey higher than Burks on this list, but it shows you how things have changed. The main reason is likely his contract situation according to The Athletic, as Bey is will become extension eligible this offseason and the Detroit Pistons may not be interested in pursuing a long-term deal.
Trading Bey may also allow the Pistons to improve their awful team defense, as he is a below-average defender on the wing. That could change if he were playing what should be his natural position at power forward, but Detroit should be leery about trading him too soon, especially if they can lock him up in a team-friendly deal.
#3: Bojan Bogdanovic
There were no specific destinations listed for Bogdanovic, mostly because half the league has been attached to him in trade rumors, most recently the Toronto Raptors among a slew of others.
This will really just come down to the offer, as Detroit is not going to deal Bojan just to make a move, or only for a late first-round pick, as the odds of finding a good player there are slim, even for someone with a great eye for talent like Troy Weaver.
This trade deadline should be a seller’s market, as there are far more teams who think they are in contention than not, so if there is a bidding war for Bogdanovic and some team offers up a king’s ransom, he will be moved. If not, expect him to be in the Motor City next season as Detroit pivots towards trying to compete.
Possible trade target for the Detroit Pistons
#2: John Collins
The Detroit Pistons have been connected to the Atlanta Hawks as a possible trade partner for John Collins.
Collins is definitely an intriguing talent, as he would be an upgrade defensively and could be a weapon in the pick-and-roll, both as a roller and a shooter, especially if playing with a pass-first guard like Cade Cunningham.
His contract is a bit daunting, as he is owed $25+ million through the 2025-26 season, but if Troy Weaver thought there was a chance for him to return to this previous 20/10 form on 40 percent shooting from long range, he would be well worth it, especially if the price were low.
The Athletic named the Detroit Pistons as a possible landing spot for Collins and I do think the fit is there as far as talent on the floor. It would really come down to Atlanta’s price and what they hope to achieve.
Do the Hawks fancy themselves contenders this season? If so, they might be looking for Bojan Bogdanovic in return, who would be a better fit with Trae Young as a spot-up shooter. If the Hawks are looking more towards the future, then they might want a combination of young players and picks, in which case the Pistons would likely be out of the running, as they don’t have any draft assets to trade.
It’s far more likely that Detroit will be sellers rather than buyers at the deadline, but Collins is a name to watch, as Weaver might be able to work his magic and get an impact talent for a sweet deal.