If the Detroit Pistons wanted to take a low-cost flyer on a player with upside, they could be the ideal team for Devin Carter of the Sacramento Kings.
I wrote about Carter as a possibility when rumors started circulating that the Kings were potentially looking to trade him this summer.
Carter only played in 36 games last season after suffering a shoulder injury, and at first glance, his numbers aren’t great. He shot the ball poorly in limited time in what was ultimately a lost season for him.
Concerns about his shot grew after Summer League in which he still shot the ball poorly.
But I’m not the only one who sees him as a potential fit for Detroit, as Sam Vecenie of the Game Theory Podcast also named the Pistons as a team on which Carter could blossom and fulfill the potential he showed before he was selected 13th in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Detroit Pistons trade rumors: Devin Carter could be an upgrade that fits the culture
I loved Carter coming out of college, as I’ve always had an affinity for players who prioritize defense and energy, qualities that have long been valued in Detroit.
Carter may not be able to shoot it yet, but he gets after it on defense and plays with a little edge and swagger on that end. These are qualities the Pistons are trying to build around and Carter is a guy who fits perfectly in that regard.
He’d likely be competing for the 10th spot in the rotation with Marcus Sasser, unless of course the Pistons sent the Kings Sasser in the deal. Sasser makes less next season and only has a team option on his contract after that, so would give Sacramento the cap relief they are seeking.
I know what you are thinking: Do the Pistons really need another defensive player who can’t shoot? That is a fair question to ask, as Detroit already lacks 3-point shooting and Carter has been bad. But he did shoot it well in his last season of college and there are questions about how much his shoulder injury affected this shot.
The Pistons also have shot guru Fred Vinson on the staff, who had success with a similar player in Jose Alvarado, a small, defensive guard who struggled shooting his rookie year. Vinson was able to get him up to a respectable level in just one season, and Alvarado has continued to make an impact since as a disruptive defender off the bench.
I love the idea of the Pistons bringing waves of defenders off their bench, similar to what OKC did last season, wearing opponents down with relentless defense.
The risk involved wouldn’t be significant given the cost and role, and it might be worth taking for the Pistons, who could potentially get another first-round pick to replace the one they didn’t have this year and a guy who could thrive in the right role on the right team.