If the Detroit Pistons wanted to make a trade deadline move that was more than just a short-term acquisition, then Max Christie of the Dallas Mavericks would be the perfect target.
Christie has put up elite shooting splits this season, hitting over 44 percent of his 3-point shots on 5.4 attempts per game and putting himself among the lead leaders in catch-and-shoot 3’s.
He’s also only 22 years old, can defend, and the Pistons would be able to comfortably absorb his contract into their trade exception if that is how they wanted to use it.
Christie played his college ball at Michigan State (where he was a five-star recruit), so this would be a homecoming of sorts, one that could help bolster the Pistons’ 3-point shooting, which is among the worst in the league.
If this all sounds too perfect, it’s because it might be, as I see a couple of challenges here.
Max Christie is a great trade target, but why would the Mavericks trade him?
Christie would be the type of move Trajan Langdon is likely looking for, as he wouldn’t cost them a core player to acquire, and he could grow with the team as a 22-year-old who is under contract for two more seasons after this one at a reasonable rate.
I wrote about Christie as a possibility way back when he was a draft prospect, as I like that he plays defense to go along with his 3-point shooting. He’s also on the kind of trajectory that suggests he could be very good in a few years, as he has improved his numbers every season and just keeps getting more efficient.
With all that said, why in the world would Dallas trade him? He’s young enough to be on the same timeline as Cooper Flagg and has the kind of skillset you would want next to him as a guy who can spread the floor and play defense on the perimeter.
Christie is already averaging over 12 points per game on elite 3-point numbers and is only 22 years old, so the chances of the Mavs finding someone better with whatever picks the Pistons sent them are small.
What would it take for the Pistons to pry Max Christie away?
Even if the Mavs decided to try and cash in on Christie now, what would the Pistons have to send them?
Detroit has a plethora of extra second-round draft picks, but again I have to ask the question of why Dallas wouldn’t just keep him? Christie was a second-round pick himself, but it’s statistically unlikely that the Mavs would find someone better even with 2-3 chances at it.
Would the Pistons send the Mavs a first-rounder? That might be a tad steep for Christie until you remember that the Pistons’ pick will likely be in the late 20’s in 2026 and they are unlikely to find a better player in that range, especially when you consider Christie is only 22 himself, so might be even younger than some of the guys you’d find in the second round. Rookie Chaz Lanier is already two years older than Christie, who is in the 4th year of his pro career.
I’d love for the Pistons to land Christie to add a two-way wing to their young core, but I don’t see why Dallas would move him and I’m not sure the Pistons would give up what it would take to get the deal done.