The Detroit Pistons are devoted to building a championship contender around Cade Cunningham, but to do that, they'll have to find a viable second option to help the team get over the hump.
Detroit plans to leave no stone unturned this offseason, and with that being the case, nearly every trade candidate you can think of has been mentioned. From Kyrie Irving, Trey Murphy III, and even Dejounte Murray.
Through every trade idea, though, especially the targets from New Orleans, the biggest gamble of them all has been ignored and understandably so.
No matter how scary a trade for Zion Williamson looks, it could be the exact risk that propels the Pistons from the No. 1 seed in the East to the team representing the conference in the NBA Finals.
Zion Williamson is the scary swing that could pay off
As a former No. 1 overall pick, Williamson was expected to be the next big thing when he entered the league.
Unfortunately, injuries have plagued his career up to this point, some of which could be pinned as self-inflicted setbacks.
Despite that, when the Duke product has been on the floor, he's looked every bit of the dominant force he was projected to be, both offensively and defensively.
Playing in 62 games this season, the athletic forward posted averages of 21.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.2 assists on 60% shooting from field goal range and 25% from beyond the arc.
Obviously, those stats aren't the superstar numbers he posted as a sophomore in the league, averaging 27.0 points per game, but given that he stayed on the court for the majority of the season despite New Orleans playing for nothing with no postseason hope is enough reason to be confident a swing could pay off.
Williamson would be the perfect buy-low target that could elevate Cunningham, given his upside as an ideal running mate.
The 25-year-old has yet to hit his prime; he's an elite offensive weapon at his best, and he still has another level to reach.
It's hard to justify this size of a swing, but a change of scenery could be exactly what Williamson needs to revive his career.
Zion needs a fresh start and the Motor City offers that
Williamson has made it clear on several occasions that his situation in NOLA is much different compared to other stars around the league.
The playmaker remains in New Orleans throughout the offseason, while others tend to travel and train in their offseason homes elsewhere.
Zion has been part of the community since 2019, and while he's shown no indication that he wants to move on, a fresh start may be the best thing for his career.
Landing in Detroit would give Williamson the chance to suit up for a playoff contender under a well-respected head coach and alongside an All-NBA duo in Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren (assuming he re-signs),
All that to say, if the Pistons can acquire Williamson for a reasonable price, the reward may be worth the risk.
Add us as a preferred source on Google