Detroit Pistons: Mystery team in East pursuing Damian Lillard trade

Detroit Pistons: Trade proposal with the Portland Trail Blazers for Damian Lillard

Even if the Pistons wanted to roll the dice on trading for an unhappy 33-year-old who might sit out and is still owed $214 million (THEY DON’T), it would be difficult to pull off without involving at least on other team.

Here is a trade that would work, at least financially:

Portland will want at least a promising young player, some expiring contracts and a pick or two to trade Lillard, so this deal would satisfy that.

Even though the Detroit Pistons would be getting the best player in the deal, I am not sure they’d be any better, especially in the long term.

It would leave them with a starting five of Cade Cunningam, Damian Lillard, Ausar Thompson, Isaiah Stewart and Jalen Duren.

Don’t get me wrong, the idea of Cade and Dame together is intriguing and his addition would be enough to push the Pistons towards the play-in, or at least near the win total Portland had last season, which was nearly double that of Detroit, but still not enough to get them in the play-in.

If Detroit wants to be stuck with a 30-35 win team for the next few seasons, this is the move to do it. It would definitely inject some life and hype into next season, but the results in the win column might not be a whole lot different.

In other words, I wouldn’t hold your breath waiting for a trade that sends Damian Lillard to Detroit. The Pistons might end up getting involved with their expiring contracts but Lillard will be headed somewhere else or staying in Portland.