The Detroit Pistons hope to make a leap as a franchise soon, but to do so, they will have to rely on more than just lottery luck and hoping their young players get better.
The Pistons need more talent, particularly at small forward, where they don’t have a starting caliber guy, as both Bojan Bogdanovic and Saddiq Bey are better at defending the four.
It’s a crucial position in the modern NBA, as many of the best players are wings and being able to slow them down is just as important as the offensive end.
There are a number of players the Pistons could pursue to help bolster this weakness, some of whom are better fits or more likely candidates than others. As the trade deadline approaches, the Pistons will have to decide if they are going to try and trade for talent now or wait until the offseason to either make those trades or snag players in free agency.
Here are seven possible candidates who could help them and whether the Detroit Pistons should attempt to trade for them now or wait until they are free agents.
Detroit Pistons: Trade or free agency for these 7 targets?
OG Anunoby-Either
I’ve long said that OG Anunoby would be the perfect guy to add to this Pistons’ roster, as he is not only one of the better wing defenders in the league, but is a burgeoning offensive weapon who can shoot from deep.
There have been some rumors that the Raptors would consider moving him for a king’s ransom similar to the one that landed Cleveland Donovan Mitchell, and if that is the case, the Pistons are likely out, as they don’t have those types of draft assets to trade.
There is one wild hypothetical that could land OG in Detroit, but it’s an extreme long shot, so not likely. He can be a free agent in the 2024-25 season, when he has a player option and will likely be looking for a big raise, so the best bet for Detroit is to wait it out and see if he either becomes available in the offseason or in free agency the year after next.
Detroit Pistons: Trade or free agency for these 7 targets?
John Collins-Trade
Collins won’t be a free agent until 2025-26 at the earliest and he has a player option for that season that he very well could exercise, especially if he hasn’t improved between now and then.
The price for Collins appears to be about as low as it is going to get and the Detroit Pistons might be able to snag him now. The Pistons were recently listed by The Athletic as one of the teams who could pursue Collins at the deadline, but the question is what they would have to give up and whether he is really a fit.
Collins is definitely more of a power forward, so Detroit would likely have to give up one of theirs to get him without creating a huge logjam at the position. He could be an upgrade of defense over Bey or Bogdanovic, but has been worse offensively. Some think he could thrive with Cade Cunningham but that would definitely be a roll of the dice.
Kyle Kuzma-Free agency
Kuzma might be the best free agent of the 2023 class for the Detroit Pistons, but just like with Collins, he wouldn’t really bolster their position of need. The Wizards have talked about moving him at the deadline, but recently have pivoted towards potentially trading Rui Hachimura, likely with the goal of keeping Kuzma around.
If they don’t re-sign him, Kuzma will probably decline his player option for next season and become a free agent. If the Pistons want to bring home the Flint native, there is no reason to give up assets for him now when they can just wait until the offseason and potentially sign him as a free agent.
This is especially true considering Kuzma has said he wants to play with a winner, so there is no guarantee he would re-sign in Detroit. He won’t be cheap in free agency, but if the Pistons want him, they’ll have more money than most other teams in the NBA.
Jonathan Kuminga-Trade
The Warriors are clinging onto the final play-in spot and may need to make a move to bolster their roster if they are interested in defending their title. I’ve long said that if the Warriors “cash out” the Pistons should be involved, as Kuminga is the type of high-ceiling defender they could use.
He’s not a free agent until after the 2024-25 season, so the best chance to get him at a discount would be now, though it’s unclear what the Warriors would be looking for if they do decide to move one of their young players for win now talent.
Detroit Pistons: Trade or free agency for these 7 targets?
Matisse Thybulle-Either
Thybulle is a two-time member of the All-Defense team but has played sparingly for the 76ers this season, mostly because he can’t shoot.
He’d be a great addition to the Pistons, who need some gritty players who want to defend and don’t care about having the ball in their hands. Thybulle is a guy the Pistons might be able to pursue at the deadline to get an idea of his fit before he becomes a restricted free agent this summer.
But the Pistons can also just wait and see what Philly wants to do, as they are unlikely to match an offer and Detroit can probably get him in free agency without giving anything up. He’s still only 25-years-old and could find a second life in Detroit where his defense would be a welcome addition to a team that is headed for their worst team defense in franchise history.
Dillon Brooks-Free agency
Brooks is the type of tough defender that the Pistons could use, and also brings a little attitude to a team that rolls over way too often. He’s not a great shooter, and I would be leery of overpaying him as a free agent, but he’ll be unrestricted after this season and possibly one of the top targets.
There is definitely no reason to trade for him now, and the Grizzlies are chasing a title anyway and not likely to move on from one of their best defenders and emotional leaders. Brooks will be name that will almost certainly be in the Pistons’ radar at the end of the season.
Josh Hart- Free agency
Hart bet on himself with his last contract, as he took less guaranteed money to have the option to renegotiate with a player option after this season. Hart is not a great shooter either, but he’s a do-it-all glue guy who will defend anyone, hustle at all times and could help change the current losing culture in Detroit.
He’s likely to opt out of his deal for a chance at a longer contract, and if he does, the Detroit Pistons should get involved, as they don’t just need more elite talent, they need players who play Detroit Basketball and get after it on the defensive end without worrying about stats. Hart is one of those guys and should be a candidate if he ends up in free agency this offseason.