The Clippers are in a desperate position after the NBA's cap circumvention punishment and it could lead to a fire sale of their roster soon. Although the Clippers have some players that could be intriguing for the Pistons, arguably their most enticing piece is head coach Tyronn Lue. Lue has consistently been one of the league's best coaches since he took over the Cavs in 2016 and he could be just what Detroit needs.
Lue would be a great boost for the Pistons
Lue's greatness was stamped in his first year as a coach when the Cavaliers came back from down 3-1 in the Finals against a juggernaut 73-9 Warriors team. But he's continued to establish his coaching strengths since then. Throughout his tenure with both the Cavs and Clippers, Lue has shown himself to be a great with playoff adjustments, superstar management and creative offensive sets.
The Pistons could really use some of those skills on their coaching bench after last season. They faltered in their playoff run with any expectations, but Lue's adaptability could have closed out the Magic earlier or even beaten the Cavaliers. Next season, the Pistons coaches will also need to do an exceptional job connecting with Jalen Duren after a drawn-out contract negotiation this summer. And of course offensive creativity remains in high demand given Detroit's defensively slanted roster.
Lue has the experience of taking both solid and great teams farther than expected in the playoffs. For the Pistons now, playoff success is the only relevant barometer of success. They've already experienced startling regular season success and found themselves disappointed by the postseason outcomes.
Ty Lue has every reason to leave the Clippers
After the NBA's harsh verdict, the Clippers have no realistic shot at a title for the better part of a decade. Their roster now is the definition of mediocre and built to compete for a Play-In spot. With many of their future first round picks stripped, they also have no solid avenue to drastic improvement soon.
That's not the position where a top coach like Lue wants to find himself. It wouldn't be surprising to see him leave the team and look for a position elsewhere if he wants to contribute towards another championship. The Pistons are a perfect destination because they've already laid the foundation of a strong team but clearly need another boost to compete for a title.
Lue can add to his legacy and work with more great players, especially Cade Cunningham, by joining the Pistons' coaching staff. When he first joined the Pistons, he served as an assistant for a year before being promoted to head coach. If he's willing to follow the same path again, there should be a definite opening for him on the Pistons bench.
Add us as a preferred source on Google