The Grizzlies and Magic got the offseason started with a blockbuster trade for Desmond Bane, and now fans wait for the next domino to fall.
It’s been reported many times that the Suns are intent on trading Kevin Durant, with the Rockets, Spurs and Heat the most likely teams in pursuit, so he could be next.
Insider Jake Fischer (subscription) broke down the Kevin Durant trade market, as well as some of the ripple effects it could have for the Suns. One of those ripples may interest the Pistons, who haven’t been mentioned seriously as a suitor for Durant:
“There has been a good bit of chatter this week about the Suns' willingness to explore trades involving Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale as part of the Durant discussions, sources say, to reduce their tax bill further. After a winter of non-stop trade discussions with various teams, Phoenix is very familiar with the concept of trying to triangulate three-team (or larger) deals.”
The Pistons may not be a player for Durant, but they have the cap space to be a third team in the deal and may be able to steal some much-needed shooting without giving up much more than money.
Detroit Pistons trade rumors: Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale
If the Suns want to get out from under the tax aprons, they may have to deal more than just Kevin Durant to do it.
Grayson Allen has three years left on his deal at between $16-19 million, so he’s a guy who could slide into the Pistons' open cap slot, essentially offering an upgrade for Tim Hardaway Jr, as Allen is younger, a better playmaker, shooter and defender.
Allen has led the league in 3-point percentage in the past and shot 42 percent this season, while THJ hit just 36 percent. If the Pistons could land Allen just by renting out cap space, he’d add another shooting threat that they desperately need and the Pistons would still have paths to re-signing Malik Beasley.
The Pistons did improve their shooting last season but were still bad, so shooting should be a priority this offseason regardless of who they add.
If Detroit wanted a cheaper option, Royce O’Neale is making between $10-11 million over the next three seasons and also shot over 40 percent from 3-point range this year on high volume.
He just turned 32-years-old, but O’Neale rarely misses games, playing in at least 71 in every year of his career since his rookie season, when he played 69 games, so he fits the profile of availability Trajan Langdon has targeted in veteran additions.
Either of these players would add shooting to a Detroit team that desperately needs it, and the Pistons may be able to land one of them without giving up anything more than money.