The Detroit Pistons are exploring ways to take advantage of the fallout from the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, with Tyler Herro and now Norman Powell as possible targets.
Insider Marc Stein (subscription) said that the Pistons were still in discussions around Herro but could pivot to Powell if Milwaukee would prefer to keep the hometown Herro.
“Sources say that the Pistons indeed intend to add Powell, who is coming off his first All-Star season, to their list of potential offseason targets as they look to add shooting and playmaking in support of star guard Cade Cunningham.”
The Pistons aren’t likely to have the cap space to sign Powell as a free agent, so it may take some type of sign-and-trade for him to end up in Detroit.
Herro is the better all-around offensive player, but Powell is a steady veteran and may ultimately be the better option if things fall though with Herro.
Norman Powell has appeal, but he can't be the only move
Powell is coming off his first All-Star season in which he averaged 21.7 points per game with 2.5 assists and 3.5 rebounds while shooting 47 percent from the floor and 38 percent from long range on over seven attempts per game.
Powell is a very good scorer, and close to the definition of a second option, though he’s not much of a creator and he'd be better served as a third option at this stage. What he can do is score efficiently, which is something the Pistons need, but he doesn’t have the appeal that Herro does as a creator.
Powell is also 33 years old, so he’s entering the downside of his career, so he’s not a long-term option.
That is also part of his appeal, as Powell would likely cost less to acquire than Herro, and if the Pistons got him as part of a sign-and-trade, then he would already be locked into a contract while Herro is on an expiring deal.
Powell hasn’t been an Iron Man in his career by any means, but he’s less injury prone than Herro and has played 60 or more games in most seasons of his career.
If the Pistons were able to get him for a decent price and then lock him into a 2-year deal, it may leave them open for other moves, as his annual salary is likely to be less than Herro’s next deal, but I do think he'll be a tough sell in some ways.
Powell isn’t the splashiest option, and if that’s all the Pistons did, it would be disappointing, as he seems like the exact type of player they always get, the Jerami Grant, Tobias Harris, Bojan Bogdanovic and Duncan Robinsons of the world who aren’t likely to move the needle on their own.
It would also fit a disappointing pattern of the Pistons striking out on their top options only to settle for middle of the road players who are better served being a third or fourth option.
But either Powell or Herro would help, and the Pistons would still have ways to add other talent.
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