With the NBA trade season fast approaching (the in-season version), Detroit Pistons team president Trajan Langdon and his team may have some difficult decisions to make in the coming weeks. Detroit sits at 10th place in the Eastern Conference, just inside the last play-in spot in the playoff race.
Regardless of where Detroit is at in the playoff race in the near-term, these Pistons will be some of the hottest names on the trade market, whether or not Langdon chooses to deal.
Malik Beasley
In many ways, Beasley is having a monster year, at least when compared to expectations. He is shooting 41.3 percent from deep and averaging 16.4 points per game on an expiring contract, making him a desirable asset for any number of teams. Beasley is only making $6 million for the full year, making him a bargain by today’s standards.
While expiring contracts would bring back less in return, if the Pistons were to consider moving Beasley, they might be able to launch a bidding war.
Tim Hardaway, Jr.
The 32-year-old shooting guard is having an up-and-down season. He’s struggling by some advanced metrics, but Hardaway can be a solid three-point shooting (36 percent from deep for his career and this year) and brings veteran leadership to any team.
Hardaway is a free agent at the end of this year and only has the pro-rated percentage of his $16.1 million contract remaining, which is an affordable option for many contenders. The Pistons are not likely to get much in return, but there’s a decent chance that Hardaway will be shopped. He is averaging 10 points per game.
Jaden Ivey
Ivey has made significant strides in his third season. He is under team control for two more years and will be eligible for an extension after this season. Given he is on a rookie contract, the 22-year-old is affordable in the short-term, especially since he is averaging 17.4 points and has improved his three-point shooting to 38.1 percent.
Ivey could be a target for not just a contending team this year but a team on the rise who may have bigger goals ahead in 2025 and beyond. Langdon may decide to shop Ivey to get a sense of potential return, which could include multiple draft picks, but likely not multiple first-round selections.
Simone Fontecchio
Six-foot-eight-inch shooters with some versatility in their game under the age of 30 have value in this league. While Fontecchio is unlikely to be a starter on a contending team, he does provide some value on an affordable contract that runs through the end of next year.
A first-round pick in return is unlikely but multiple second-round picks and/or a young player with long-term potential could be a possible option. Fontecchio is averaging 6.6 points but shooting under 35 percent from three-point range.
Time will tell if any of these players, or other Pistons on the roster will be on the move. You can assume Langdon will be working the phones either way.