The Detroit Pistons may not be players for a star at the trade deadline, but they are getting mentioned in almost every rumor.
That’s because they are sitting on $14 million in cap space, the only team in the league to have any, and other teams may need to use it to pull off blockbuster deals.
The Pistons aren’t going to do it for free, as HoopsHype reported that they are looking for a first-round pick if anyone wants to rent their cap space.
This is the correct stance, as the Pistons aren’t just here to help other teams, and will need to be paid handsomely for their cap flexibility if other teams want a piece of it, especially if they are taking on any deals that extend past this season.
The hottest name on the trade market at the moment is De’Aaron Fox and it is no secret that he wants to end up in San Antonio to play with Victor Wembanyama and I can’t blame him.
Other teams may shy away from the future free-agent if they think they can’t re-sign him, so Fox to the Spurs makes sense, as they have the assets to get him, he wants to be there and it gives them a legit All-Star next to Wemby.
But making the money work is another issue, which is where the Pistons come in.
Detroit Pistons: Getting paid for the De’Aaron Fox trade
The Athletic (subscription) recently reported that the Pistons are a team to watch in any Fox trade, as they could use their cap space to help facilitate it.
That would likely mean taking on the contract of a player like Harrison Barnes or Kevin Huerter, two mediocre players whose contracts have one more year on them past this one at around $18 million.
Barnes still shoots over 41 percent from 3-point range, while Huerter is having the worst season of his career.
These players would add some much-needed depth, but are not going to help the Pistons much long-term. Their contracts still fit the timeline, but the Pistons would be doing these teams a favor by taking one of them on.
And the Pistons should get paid for doing it.
That means getting a first-round pick in the transaction, and Trajan Langdon should hold out for just that if the Spurs and Kings need Detroit to pull off this deal.
The best-case scenario for the Pistons (if they are not in the market for a star, which is appears they are not) at the deadline is getting a rotation guy with a first-round pick attached, which would allow them to continue to chase the playoffs while still getting a much-needed draft asset.
The Pistons’ 2025 pick is still in limbo, but would currently convey to the Timberwolves as the 15th pick. A few more losses could change that, and if the pick doesn’t convey, Detroit will still be hampered in future trades, so getting an extra first could be huge if the Pistons want to chase a start next summer.
Detroit has all of the leverage here and should hold out to get back the draft pick they will eventually lose.