The Detroit Pistons are set for a round two matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers after defying the odds to dig themselves out of a 3-1 hole against the Orlando Magic in the first round.
Detroit not only has the prime opportunity to keep their championship dreams alive, but they have the chance to shake loose an ideal trade target.
Donovan Mitchell has been the key to the Cavaliers' resurgence in the Eastern Conference following the departure of LeBron James in 2018.
The former lottery pick reopened the team's championship window, but after years of shortcomings in the NBA Playoffs, it seemed that the Cavs' mid-season trade for James Harden came as a realization that the current roster wouldn't have been good enough to contend.
Fast forward to the postseason, rumblings have suggested that if the Cavaliers aren't able to make a deep run this postseason, a shakeup in Cleveland could be on the horizon, with Mitchell being an ideal candidate to be moved.
Pistons could set themselves up for Donovan Mitchell swing
There's no denying that, regardless of how far the Pistons can go during the postseason, at some point, Detroit will have to find an adequate running mate for Cade Cunningham.
Obviously, a dynamic wing would be an ideal pairing next to the star guard, but if a talent like Mitchell were to become available on the trade market, there's no doubt that Detroit could be a team that makes sense.
Mitchell's natural position is at the 2, but he's proven the ability to run an offense on a consistent basis, especially during his time in Utah.
Alongside Cunningham, Mitchell would be the perfect complement to not only alleviate playmaking pressure from the Pistons' All-NBA talent but also take away the burden that comes along with being the only reliable scorer on offense.
Still, the only opportunity for Detroit to see a name like Mitchell become available this offseason is to knock out the Cavs in the semifinals.
Cavaliers likely run it back if they advance
Adding Harden ahead of the trade deadline offers the Cavaliers limited time to find the right recipe for their new-look squad, but after struggling to knock off the Toronto Raptors in the first round, some red flags emerged for the Cavs.
Knocking off Toronto in Game 7, though, offered Cleveland some optimism that their star backcourt could work, but that's where the Pistons come into play.
If Detroit can put an end to the Cavaliers' run in round two, Cleveland will likely come to terms with the fact that if they ever hope to get over the hump, they may have to head back to the drawing board.
Meanwhile, if the Cavs are able to knock out the Pistons and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, it's almost certain that it would be enough reason for the team's front office to validate running it back next season with a few minor additions surrounding Harden and Mitchell.
All that to say, if Detroit has any plans to make a splash for a name like Mitchell, step one is dominating the Cavaliers in round two.
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