Once again, Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo is dominating headlines with his impending trade status. Pistons fans are split on whether or not their team should pursue him, but they likely don’t have a competitive offer either way. It’s debatable whether adding Giannis to the best team in the East would even be a positive, but the Pistons probably won’t have that choice regardless.
The Pistons don’t have what the Bucks want
In a possible Giannis trade, the Bucks will be seeking blue-chip young prospects and valuable draft picks. Understandably, they are asking for a huge package to part ways with their franchise icon. More desperate teams may be willing to mortgage their entire future for acquiring Giannis now, but the Pistons aren’t in that position.
Additionally, the Pistons’ picks and young talent likely won’t be valued very highly by the Bucks. Detroit doesn’t have anyone aside from Cade Cunningham (who is obviously untouchable in trade talks) with true superstar potential. And all future Pistons draft picks are likely to be very late in the first round, since they’re set up to dominate their conference for years to come.
Given the state of their trade assets, the Pistons might find themselves similarly disqualified from any other trades for MVP-caliber players in the future. But this could be a blessing in disguise. Gutting a team’s depth for one big name can be a risky gamble; many teams have regretted such decisions in recent years.
And the Pistons clearly have a winning strategy right now. Their depth and defensive intensity, along with the play of superstar guard Cade Cunningham, have carried them to an incredible record so far. This team should only continue to get better as its young players mature. Rushing that process for a couple years of an older superstar, especially one with injury concerns, could be a fatal mistake.
Of course, the Pistons will eventually need to surround Cade with better offensive talent. Hopefully the players already on the roster can grow into credible scorers and shooters. But if they can’t provide sufficient support, Detroit’s front office may need to pull the trigger on a big trade one day soon.
However, that marquee trade acquisition will almost certainly not be Giannis Antetokounmpo in the near future. He’s way too good for the Pistons to acquire without gutting their whole team. However, passing on the Giannis sweepstakes now can prepare the Pistons to make a better move.
Whether it’s now or in the next couple years, the Pistons should be in the market for a big scoring upgrade. Hopefully it’s someone cheaper and younger than Giannis who can set the Pistons up for long-term sustained success.