The Detroit Pistons have had an incredible 15-2 start to the season, which naturally has the national media buzzing about the big trade that could push them over the top.
Luckily, Trajan Langdon has patience and is going to let his young team cook until there is a reason not to, as he’d be silly to burn all of his assets to chase a ring before his team is ready. He needs to ask himself what Sam Presti would do, as the guy is building a potential dynasty in OKC largely based on homegrown talent.
The Thunder were in this position last season, with everyone assuming they would push in some of their considerable assets for another superstar, and they have the ammo to get just about anyone.
Instead, Presti made moves around the margins, adding the perfect veteran complements to his young core, and he won a title.
Trajan Langdon needs to do the same thing.
Detroit Pistons: Finding an Alex Caruso trade
I don’t expect the Pistons to make a blockbuster trade this season, but they could consolidate some of their talent to land an impact player like the Thunder did with Alex Caruso.
Josh Giddey was superfluous for the Thunder, so they sent him to the Bulls for Caruso, who was the perfect veteran complement to their bench and helped OKC to the best defense in the league. The Thunder just keep coming at you in waves, with a relentless bench defense that is spearheaded by Caruso.
Giddey is having a breakout year for Chicago, but OKC still wouldn’t undo that trade, as they found the right guy at the right price and he fits perfectly with what they had.
Similarly, the Pistons have a young and deep roster that is blooming with talent. Trajan Langdon has already shown that the right veteran complements make all the difference, as the Pistons have gone from laughingstock to contender in two seasons with just a few tweaks.
Fans and pundits love to dream about the star trades and what a guy like Lauri Markkanen might look like on the Pistons, but the truth is the Pistons would be smarter to stay the course like the Thunder did, continue to develop their own guys and continue to improve around the fringes.
A player like Keon Ellis immediately springs to mind, as he’d give the Pistons another defensive wing who can shoot and could have a similar impact as Caruso in OKC, especially if the Pistons were able to extend him on a team-friendly deal.
It may not be as exciting as chasing a star, but the Pistons have stars at home and just need to keep finding the right players to put around them.