The Detroit Pistons just won their first playoff game since 2008 and proved that they can at least hang with some of the best teams in the Eastern Conference.
The natural instinct is to ask what’s next. What additions can the Pistons make this offseason to turn a nice playoff team into a title contender?
The good news is that all of the Pistons’ best players are 23 years old or younger, so they may not have to do anything drastic, a drum I’ve been beating since it became clear this was a playoff team. Let's not forget that they were missing two key players (both 23 year olds) and still played a very competitive series against a good Knicks team.
The Pistons can expect internal improvement from guys like Ausar Thompson, Ron Holland, Jalen Duren and Jaden Ivey, not to mention Cade Cunningham, an All-NBA talent who still has areas where he needs to get better.
Trajan Langdon may decide the boring offseason is the best one and just bring back key free agents, run it back and see what happens with the group he has, and if that is the choice, I am fine with it. There will always be more players available for trades in the future (maybe at next year's trade deadline with Tobias Harris' expiring contract), so there is no need to trade guys before they even know what they can be.
But that’s not going to stop the rumor mill, especially when there will be plenty of stars available this summer, including an all-time great in Kevin Durant.
Should the Detroit Pistons speed up their timeline with Kevin Durant?
I’ve written several times that the only star I would empty the cupboard to get is Giannis Antetokounmpo but I am pretty sure most teams feel that way, so even if Giannis was available, and even if the Pistons wanted him, there is some other team out there that would likely offer more.
Other than that, I am not gutting the roster for one guy, especially a guy like Durant, who doesn’t have a track record of happiness or loyalty that would make you feel safe with him in Detroit.
His name was mentioned as a possibility on a recent Bill Simmons Podcast, as the hosts broke down Detroit’s options. Both hosts agreed with me, that Detroit doesn’t need to be impatient here and that even though Durant would be fun, he’s not a great fit for their timeline.
I’d be more interested in Durant’s teammate, Devin Booker, but the Suns have made it clear he’s not available (for now) and it’s arguable whether he’s worth what Detroit would have to give up to get him, which is at least three players and a slew of draft picks.
I’m sure Trajan Langdon will do his due diligence on every star player that is available this summer, but it’s not worth emptying the roster of cost-controlled young talent to go after a 36-year-old who ends up disgruntled wherever he goes.
Instead, the Pistons should be looking to cut team-friendly deals with their own free agents and then looking for 1-2 role players who fill distinct needs. This team doesn’t need to sell out for a superstar unless it’s the perfect situation, and an aging hall of famer on an expiring contract does not fit that definition.