The Detroit Pistons will travel to New Orleans tonight to take on the Pelicans, and you can be sure that there will be plenty of scouts from both teams in attendance.
The Pistons have been connected to Trey Murphy III in trade rumors and have reportedly had scouts at attendance at Pelicans' games, though most of this is fan fiction, and there have been no reported talks between the two teams.
The Pelicans threw further cold water on the notion last week when they said they aren’t trading TMIII, Zion Williamson or Herb Jones, though we know that could just be a front.
I am certain the amateur social media scouts will overreact to whatever happens in tonight’s game as it pertains to TMIII, who will either have a good game and be the “no-brainer” target tomorrow morning or have a bad game and have all them saying “I told you he wasn't that good.”
But the truth is that Trajan Langdon and Troy Weaver know all they need to know about these players, and if there is a trade between the two teams, it will have little to do with what happens tonight in the Big Easy.
The Pistons and Pelicans know each other well
Trajan Langdon was part of the front office that drafted Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones and signed Jose Alvarado, so he is well familiar with what they can do.
The same can be said of Troy Weaver, who was the person who drafted Jaden Ivey (the primary name thrown into these fake trades) and is also very well acquainted with his game after watching him develop for years.
Now that the two have swapped jobs, the context for these players and how they are viewed has changed, but it’s not like either guy needs a scout to tell what their games are like or how they might fit.
I’ve all but written off a trade for TMIII, as I just don’t see any reason why New Orleans would want to move him considering his age, production and contract, which is reasonable and goes on for several more seasons after this one. Even if the Pels are thinking rebuild around Derik Queen, TMIII can very much be a part of that, as he’s just entering his prime.
The only caveat to my doubt is the Weaver factor, as we know he’s a GM who has the tendency to fall in love with the guys he’s scouted and he’s a been a big proponent of the “he just needs a new environment” strategy with “second draft” players.
You’ll find faith in Ivey lacking in most Pistons corners these days, but I wouldn’t be shocked if old Troy Weaver still had a candle burning.
It’s not likely to happen, but tonight’s matchup will give some fans their first look at the guy they want the Pistons to trade for, so this game will be interesting either way.