Another day, another set of Detroit Pistons’ trade rumors.
I take every rumor, suggestion or prediction with a grain of salt the size of Mount Everest, as publications like Bleacher Report put them out nearly every day.
This isn’t a jab at B/R, as I do think fake trade suggestions are great fodder for conversation and help to evaluate team needs and scenarios that could emerge in the offseason, though most of them won’t.
This was the case when B/R released their “dream” trade targets for every team, including three that could end up being nightmares for Detroit.
There were also Pistons players who popped up as candidates for other teams, including Isaiah Stewart, who has often appeared in trade rumors over the years, as he’s a productive rim protector on a reasonable deal and is the type of small-ball center teams love to have in the playoffs.
The Cavaliers were a suggested home for Stewart, which doesn’t make much sense for their roster or Detroit’s.
Detroit Pistons trade rumors: Isaiah Stewart to the Cavaliers?
It’s hard for me to imagine the Pistons trading Isaiah Stewart for all of the reasons mentioned above, as well as the fact that he is the emotional heart of their team.
The Pistons are also thin on big men, as they only have Jalen Duren and Stewart signed for next season, so they couldn’t flip Stew unless there was another big man coming to replace him.
Detroit should probably be looking for another big, particularly one who can spread the floor, not trying to trade one of the ones they have.
And if they did decide to move Stew, the Cavaliers are not a great match. They are in the Pistons’ division, and I am certain Detroit doesn’t want to have to play Stewart four times a year. That would be awful.
The Cavs don’t have great matches when it comes to talent or contracts either. Max Strus would be a salary match, and would add some shooting, but the Pistons don’t need another guard, they need a power forward.
A combination of Dean Wade and Isaac Okoro would get them there. I do like Okoro as a 3-and-D wing, but both he and Wade were non-factors in the playoffs and wouldn’t do anything for the Pistons’ lack of big-man depth.
The wild card would be if the Cavs wanted to shed some payroll and flip Jarrett Allen, but that would be an expensive upgrade for Detroit and how does Allen fit with Jalen Duren? The Pistons would still have two bigs who can't shoot and would be paying handsomely for it.
This is another case of a Pistons player being thrown out there even though there is little chance he’ll be traded, especially to a division rival that doesn’t have complementary players to trade.