Pistons, Bulls could target each other in trades

Detroit Pistons: Trading for Lonzo Ball 

B/R lists Lonzo Ball as a possible trade target for the Pistons, a name I have written about in the past and named as a possible buy-low target for the Pistons. 

B/R agrees, saying that while Ball may be a risk because of his injury history, on paper he’s the type of role player they need next to Cade Cunningham, as he can make plays as a secondary option, hit three-point shots and defend. 

Ball isn’t a risk if you trade for him now, as he’s on an expiring contract, but he is owed over $20 million this season, so trading for him would mean sending a few contracts back, as the Pistons don’t have enough cap space to absorb his deal. 

If the Bulls were willing to send draft capital, it’s a salary dump that could be fruitful for the Pistons, but right now, Chicago really has no reason to trade him, as they are not trying to be good this season and have a top-10 protected first round pick in 2025 on the line. 

It’s more likely they’ll make Ball available at the deadline, hoping that he has shown he is healthy and turns from sunk cost to trade asset. 

It’s tough to imagine the Pistons trading for him unless things are going very well and they want to supplement their depth or things are going very poorly and they want to acquire a draft asset.