Would the Pistons do this draft trade with the Mavericks?
Detroit Pistons draft: Trade with the Dallas Mavericks
I have no idea if this trade would move the Dallas Mavericks, as they might be able to find a better one, so let’s focus on the Detroit Pistons.
The cons of a trade like this is that it would potentially make the Pistons worse in the short term depending on what they did in free agency.
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They would be doing the same thing they did when they traded Jerami Grant, taking a downgrade in immediate talent for a chance to add another lottery pick to the roster.
It would not necessarily fit with Troy Weaver’s plan to compete next season, and we could be right back here next year, staring at lottery odds in bewilderment.
HOWEVER
The pros of such a trade is that it would give the Pistons the chance to completely fill out their roster with athletic, two-way players that are all on the same timeline. Detroit would still have a ton of cap space (even more) to sign free agents, and would have Bojan Bogdanovic’s terrible defense off the team, something I think should be a priority.
They could potentially end up with two high-end forwards in the draft (exactly what they need) and would have the cap space to pursue any free agent. Kristaps Porzingis anyone? Kyle Kuzma? A reunion with Jerami Grant?
Even before free agency, a young core that looks like this is pretty exciting:
- Cade Cunningham/Killian Hayes
- Jaden Ivey
- Cam Whitmore/Isaiah Livers
- Taylor Hendricks/Isaiah Stewart
- Jalen Duren/James Wiseman
If they added two more veteran free agents to this squad, they would arguably be better than the team will be with Bojan trying to defend the wing again. Whitmore and Hendricks are both guys who could be plus defenders (many believe Hendricks is the top defender in the draft) and would eventually help the Pistons’ woeful defense.
Add Jerami Grant or Kristaps Porzingis to this team, and you might have something.
It would be a calculated risk for both teams, and one that either could walk away from, but it also makes some sense for both sides. So who says no?
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