The Detroit Pistons managed to find a new low last night, losing their 11th straight game without so much as a whimper.
You never would have known it was only the 14th game of the season by the way the team looked on the bench, as they stared into the abyss wondering if they are ever going to win another game.
The evisceration last night should lead to some tough questions, namely, how is this team ever going to turn it around?
The Pistons were again missing six players, and injuries have obviously taken their toll on the team both physically and mentally, as last night was the first game of the season where they showed no fight at all.
Will the Pistons’ losing streak lead to big trade?
Detroit always has a small but vocal group of fans calling for Troy Weaver to be fired and/or for the Pistons to make a roster-altering trade, but that chorus has swelled over the last week and now even some of the most level-headed, pragmatic fans are screaming for change.
If I had to bet, I’d say Troy Weaver will be given another summer to see this through (though now I am not nearly as sure of that), but there isn’t a clear fix, as 2024 free agency is thin with realistic options and the Pistons don’t have a ton to trade, as they still owe the Knicks a first-round pick, so can only include one in any deal.
A GM who is fearful of losing his job is a dangerous thing, and we’ve seen in the past that it can lead to panic trades that ultimately set the franchise back even more in exchange for short-term gains.
The Detroit Pistons have recently been mentioned in a trade proposal that has “panic” written all over it.
Panic trade between the Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls haven’t been much better than the Pistons of late and look to be stuck in NBA purgatory, not good enough to really compete but not bad enough to bottom out.
They should look to blow it up in Chicago and start over, and the Pistons were named as a possible landing spot for one of their stars.
In a recent article for The Athletic (SUBSCRIPTION) ,Sam Vecenie broke down the trade market for Zach LaVine and threw out some possible teams and the hypothetical trades they could make.
Here’s the one he came up with for the Pistons:
This is a very similar trade to the one I proposed a few days earlier, comparing it to the disastrous move to acquire Blake Griffin. To his credit, Vecenie said that he would not trade Ivey for LaVine and called it a “panic” move by the Pistons, though he did make a case for it:
"“…LaVine, along with the eventual return of Bojan Bogdanović, Isaiah Livers and Monté Morris from injury, will bolster the biggest thing the Pistons need: offensive firepower around Cade Cunningham. Detroit’s current lack of floor spacing requires Cunningham to run almost every primary action when he’s on the court for the team, which has led to turnover issues and inefficient shooting for the 22-year-old. The Pistons’ starting five of Cunningham, Hayes, Ausar Thompson, Isaiah Stewart and Jalen Duren are only averaging 105.7 points per 100 possessions. By comparison, Detroit averages 120.1 points per 100 possessions when Cunningham plays with Alec Burks and about 111 points per 100 when rookie Marcus Sasser replaces Hayes. Imagine putting one of the best scoring guards in the league in LaVine around Cunningham instead.”"
That’s pretty much the case for LaVine. Cade Cunningham needs help on offense, LaVine is a very good offensive player, and he, along with their injured veterans, might be enough to turn this team around.
But he also added that it would be a “panic” move, and I agree for several reasons.
Should the Pistons trade for Zach LaVine?
On one hand, Vecenie is right about the immediate impact LaVine would have on the Pistons’ offense and Cade Cunningham, who is a one-man show right now. Seriously, Detroit doesn’t have an offense, they have four guys standing in various corners watching Cade dribble, usually down and around the hoop at least once before he passes or takes a contested shot. It’s what I have always called the “Teen Wolf” offense and if you don’t get that reference, congratulations, you’re not old.
But would LaVine really help that? In the short term, he would yes, just as Blake Griffin helped the Pistons get to the playoffs once before his knees gave out and the Pistons had to pay him to leave. So some things to consider about this trade:
- Zach LaVine is the same age Blake Griffin was when the Pistons traded for him
- He too has had problems with injuries, though he’s had a good run of health lately
- LaVine’s .502 effective FG percentage is the worst since his 4th year in the league, when he was 22 years old, a year older than Jaden Ivey is right now.
- Jaden Ivey’s effective FG percentage is currently .556, though in fewer minutes and on far fewer attempts than LaVine.
- Zach LaVine’s per-36 numbers: 22 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists. Jaden Ivey’s per-36 numbers: 18 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists.
- Zach LaVine will make between $43-48 million over the next three seasons after this one, by the end of which he will be 31 years old.
- Jaden Ivey will make between $8-10 million over the next two seasons after this one, by the end of which he will be 23 years old.
- LaVine is a terrible defender, so is Ivey, but LaVine is a veteran at this point. He is what he is, while Ivey has shown improvement and still has plenty of time to get there.
- Zach LaVine has one career playoff win. One more than Ivey.
While I am not necessarily against trading Ivey (and am 100 percent for trading Wiseman and Harris for anything at all) if that’s what it takes to get a proven star, I don’t think LaVine is the guy. For one, Ivey could very well be better than LaVine in a couple of years if they continue on their current trajectories. Even if he isn’t, he’s on a rookie deal that would allow the Pistons to get 2-3 more players for the price of one Zach Lavine.
LaVine has had injury problems (big red flag for a team that can’t stay healthy) is making a ton of money and hasn’t won much in the NBA.
I do agree that the Pistons need to do something, but this reeks of a panic move that could end similarly to the Blake Griffin trade, with the Pistons trading some small short-term gains for long-term damage.
I’d pass on this one.