The Detroit Pistons already have one of the best defenses in the NBA, but could lean into that strength by making a surprising trade for Jaren Jackson Jr.
Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported that the Pistons were one of ”various teams” around the league who were inquiring about the Grizzlies’ All-Defensive big.
Jackson Jr. somewhat fits the prototype of what the Pistons could use as a power forward who can shoot and defend the rim. Pairing him with Jalen Duren and/or Isaiah Stewart would give the Pistons an even more formidable interior defense.
The Pistons would be going all-in on their biggest strength, but it would be a move that would lock them into some serious financial commitment.
Trading for Jaren Jackson Jr. would set the Pistons’ roster for the foreseeable future
Let’s start with the obvious, which is the Grizzlies have not made JJJ available and just because the Pistons are sniffing around doesn’t mean they have serious interest.
It would go against everything Trajan Langdon has talked about so far and cost the Pistons all of their flexibility in terms of trade assets and cap space.
Detroit would surely have to send at least one of their talented young core along with copious draft assets and the expiring contract of Tobias Harris, so we are talking multiple rotation players for one guy, which would immediately eat into the Pistons’ depth.
Then there is a financial cost.
JJJ’s $205 million contract extension kicks in next year, so along with a possible max or near max deal for Jalen Duren, the Pistons could have upwards of $400 million wrapped up in two guys. Add in Ausar Thompson’s extension (assuming he wasn’t in the trade), and you suddenly have a TON of money invested in four players.
That would be your team, at least for 3-4 seasons.
That may not be a bad thing, as they’d be getting a big chunk of JJJ’s prime for that cost, as he’s only 26 years old. The Pistons are also well equipped to cover JJJ’s biggest flaw (rebounding) with Duren, Stewart and Thompson.
JJJ would be a costly trade, but one that isn’t a rental and could potentially make the Pistons the best team in the Eastern Conference for the foreseeable future.
The flip side of that is that if it doesn’t work out for whatever reason, the Pistons are stuck with an expensive team that is not good enough to win a title, which is one of the worst positions to be in the NBA.
Trajan Langdon has been patient so far, and a move like this would be an abrupt departure from that ethos, and one that could backfire spectacularly if it doesn’t work out.
We’ll know in a few weeks if there is any fire behind this smoke, but it would be a shocking move for the Pistons to go all-in at this stage of their progression from a 14-win team to one that is leading the East.