The Detroit Pistons will leave no stone unturned in their quest to improve this summer, and so far, that includes inquiring about Kyrie Irving and Trey Murphy III.
Insider Marc Stein (subscription) revealed that the Pistons had checked on both possible trade candidates and that it was more than just a passing fancy. They are serious.
This is somewhat surprising given recent information that the Pelicans were looking for “win now” players in exchange for Trey Murphy III, but that could include names like Jalen Duren and/or Isaiah Stewart, both of whom were drafted by Pelicans’ GM Troy Weaver.
How serious these talks have gotten is anyone’s guess, and we know there will be other teams inquiring about both of these guys, but the Pistons’ interest shows two wildly different paths but also opens up the possibility for an ambitious third option.
Kyrie Irving is likely the cheaper option
On paper, you won’t find too many players who fit the Pistons’ need for ballhandling and shooting better than Irving, who is not only has some of the best handles of all time but is a knockdown 3-point shooter.
He’s also a better-than-advertised defender who has been to multiple NBA Finals with ball dominant guards.
The red flags are obvious after a season missed due to injury, but that could drive down the price somewhat. Irving represents the risky short-term option that might help the Pistons win right now but isn’t going to carry far into the future.
Trey Murphy III is not much risk at all, but he's not cheap
Conversely, TMIII is a decade younger, and on a cheaper deal that extends multiple years, so he’d be more of a long-term option.
Those things are going to make him more expensive, so Trajan Langdon would have to be sure he’s the guy, as it’s going to cost nearly all of their trade assets to land him.
If the Pistons could give the Pels Isaiah Stewart, Caris LeVert and a bunch of picks, this could be a home run for Detroit, but they can’t go too deep for TMIII.
Both of these players represent wildly different approaches, but what if they could get them both?
The Pistons could try for both Kyrie Irving and Trey Murphy III
Each of these players are their own version of longshots separately, so landing both is the ultimate pipe dream, but why not?
It would almost certainly take all of their draft capital, but I repeat, so what?
The only real sticking point is the contract of Kyrie Irving, which would be difficult to match if Detroit also had to send matching contracts to New Orleans for Murphy III. However, there would. ways to get it done.
Detroit could send Stewart and LeVert plus three picks and a swap to New Orleans and send Robinson, Holland, Sasser and Lanier plus a pick and some second rounders for Kyrie. They'd be sending out six guys for two and have to completely remake their bench, but that needs to happen anyway.
Detroit could also send Duren in a sign and trade for Murphy, which would leave them LeVert's contract to send to Dallas instead of Robinson's.
What a dream offseason that would be, as the Pistons would get their second ball handler and a guy they know they can go to war with in the playoffs as well as a knockdown 3-point shooter, pretty much everything they need in two guys.
The Pistons may just be sniffing around, or they may have a big plan to win the summer and walk away with a team ready to contend.
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