The Detroit Pistons just missed out on a perfect opportunity to trade for Kevin Durant, and based on the price the Houston Rockets reportedly paid the Phoenix Suns, they could have been firmly in the mix. Adding Durant to the mix in Detroit, especially next to a guard as elite as Cade Cunningham, would have been incredible.
Instead, Durant is now slated to join Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun in Houston as they look to navigate their way through a brutal Western Conference in hopes of winning a championship. Durant could have been a Piston, but that dream is no longer a potential reality.
He’s staying out West.
What could the Pistons have traded for Kevin Durant?
According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Rockets traded Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in this year’s NBA Draft, and five second-rounders in exchange for Durant.
That sounds like a lot, but based on the Pistons’ current roster situation, they could have gotten pretty close to matching the price (or even exceeding it).
The Suns got back a young player with a ton of potential, a veteran, and a pick in this year’s draft. There were no future first-rounders involved. Instead, just a haul of second-rounders.
In theory, the Pistons could have offered Jaden Ivey (a youngster with potential), Tobias Harris (a solid veteran player), and draft capital to the Suns.
They don’t have a first-rounder in this year’s draft, but giving up multiple future picks could have helped make up for that. Plus, the Pistons have plenty of second-rounders they could have thrown the Suns’ way.
Ivey isn’t the same caliber of player as Green at this moment in time, but the Pistons could have found a way to make up for that by throwing in more draft capital or an extra player the Suns may have been interested in.
And considering Ivey was out for most of the Pistons’ playoff push last season, a deal with that framework would have effectively seen the Pistons swap out Harris for Durant—a major upgrade, despite how well Harris played in Detroit.
A starting lineup of Cunningham, Tim Hardaway Jr. or Malik Beasley (if re-signed), Ausar Thompson, Durant, and Jalen Duren could have made a ton of noise, especially in a weak Eastern Conference ravaged by injuries (Jayson Tatum, Darius Garland, etc.)
Perhaps keeping Ivey and their picks will work out better for the Pistons in the long run, but based on the price the Rockets paid, Detroit may have missed out on a perfect opportunity to compete right now.