Swirling trade rumors have fans of the Detroit Pistons dreaming about the star trade that could push them over the top, but the team could ultimately disappoint them and do nothing.
All signs are pointing to this outcome, which doesn’t mean the Pistons won’t make a move at the deadline, but it’s more likely that they make a moderate upgrade around the fringes than to go all-in on a star trade.
Just ask Trajan Langdon, who has talked about resisting the urge to make that type of move before he really knows what he has in his own guys. That mentality could change by the deadline, but he’s preached patience all along, and nothing has change,d even though the Pistons are popping up in some unlikely rumors.
Same with coach JB Bickerstaff, who has repeatedly talked about giving this team a chance to compete together and not pushing the “panic button” just because they made the playoffs last season.
Insider Marc Stein echoed these sentiments, going as far as to say the Pistons were most likely “standing pat” at the trade deadline and wouldn’t blow up their roster even for a perfect piece.
Of course, we’ve heard teams talk like this before only to do the exact opposite, so we won’t truly know the Pistons’ intentions until the trade deadline has passed, and they will have one big advantage that could send them in a direction no one sees coming.
The Pistons could rent out cap space for assets
The Detroit Pistons still have a $14.1 million trade exception that they could use to take on a salary and help facilitate a trade in exchange for draft assets.
According to Shams Charania of ESPN, “The Nets, Pistons ($14.1 million trade exception) and Utah Jazz ($18.4 million trade exception) are the only teams with significant room that can take in larger deals and not be impacted by the apron.”
This isn’t an exciting option for many Pistons fans who are hoping for a big swing, but it may be the smartest way to use their financial flexibility.
While the Pistons do control all of their own draft picks, they don’t have any extras, and theirs will likely be in the 20’s, so aren’t great trade assets. If Trajan Langdon were looking to the summer of 2026 as the time to make a big move, hoarding some additional assets would be smart.
We could see the Pistons get paid to take on a salary and possibly even get themselves a role player in the process if some team is desperate enough.
Trajan Langdon continues to take a pragmatic approach, so it wouldn’t surprise me to see him try to use his financial flexibility to add assets for the future, especially if there isn’t a player out there who is a clear needle mover for Detroit.