The Detroit Pistons do not need to make a blockbuster move despite what some may think, but could upgrade their bench by consolidating some talent and trading for Keon Ellis of the Sacramento Kings.
The Pistons have a problem most teams would love to have, which is that they have too many players deserving of NBA minutes. JB Bickerstaff is trying to juggle an 11-12 man rotation and still has guys left out who would be playing on other teams (I’m looking at you, BBall Paul!).
Marcus Sasser and Bobi Klintman can’t even get off the bench, and with Jaden Ivey and Tobias Harris back, that isn’t going to change anytime soon, as the Pistons simply do not have the minutes to go around.
Enter the Sacramento Kings.
The Kings predictably stink after botching every single decision they’ve made over the last few years. Insider Jake Fischer (subscription) thinks they are getting ready to blow it up, though there won’t be too much interest in their cast of overpaid veterans.
Ellis may be their best trade chip even though he inexplicably only plays 17 minutes per game, and according to Fischer, “half the league” has already called about him.
It’s hard to say the Pistons “need” anything right now, as they are rolling, but if they could secure another two-way wing, especially one who is a good shooter, it’s something to consider.
Detroit Pistons trade: Keon Ellis is tailor-made for Detroit
Like I said, the Pistons don’t need to do anything, and they certainly aren’t going to do any of the ridiculous trade proposals we’ve seen of late, so all of you NBA2K junkies can forget about Anthony Davis or Lauri Markkanen.
Detroit could certainly make a big trade, but it would go against everything Trajan Langdon has preached.
Instead, they could improve around the margins by adding a plug-and-play 3-and-D wing like Keon Ellis, who is a guy you can go to war with and would fit perfectly in the Pistons’ culture.
Ellis is a dog on defense and would be unbelievable paired with one of the Pistons’ other elite wing defenders. But unlike Thompson and Holland, Ellis can shoot the 3-ball, averaging over 43 percent from long range for his career.
The Pistons could potentially send the Kings Sasser (who has no future in Detroit), Klintman and a bunch of second-round picks, though the Kings will try to find a team to give them a first for Ellis.
Ellis is extension eligible after this season and even with a raise, could be on a team-friendly deal that would allow the Pistons to shop Caris LeVert next offseason.
Ellis is an underrated and underutilized talent who would bring the Pistons another elite defender and contribute to their 3-point shooting without compromising the team's culture.