The Detroit Pistons will likely be active at the trade deadline, but the real question is how aggressive they will be in pursuit of upgrades.
There are myriad rumors swirling around the Pistons, who have continued their “we’re going to be patient and stay flexible” mantra so far this season.
But if they really want to chase the Eastern Conference this season, they have to do something, as they still have weaknesses that will get further exposed in the playoffs.
They’ve also been dealing with a ton of injuries, so having some additional quality depth in the regular season could help them hold onto the number one spot.
Some pundits think the Pistons should go big with a guy like Michael Porter Jr. or Trey Murphy III, while others think they should tinker around the edges with more low key rotational depth.
There are pros and cons for each strategy.
The Pros and Cons of making a splashy trade for the Pistons
Pros: The Eastern Conference is there for the taking and adding a guy like MPJ or TMIII could push the Pistons into the Finals. These types of chances don’t always come around, and you can’t just assume the team will be better next season.
Cons: What if it doesn’t work? If the Pistons give up several rotation players for a guy on a big deal, they will lose some of the flexibility Trajan Langdon has coveted. Fans are probably sick of hearing about it, but they’d be even sicker if a better opportunity presented itself next summer and the Pistons couldn't get involved. Giannis anyone?
If the Pistons were to flame out in the playoffs, they’d then be stuck with a team that’s not good enough, with no easy way to improve.
The Pros and Cons of a lower tier move for the Pistons
Pros: The Pistons could potentially grab a player like Precious Achiuwa or Sam Hauser for practically nothing. They would strengthen the roster without disrupting the chemistry or presenting Detroit with long-term dilemmas.
Trajan Langdon would then have another playoffs to evaluate his team and see exactly what they need (as Sam Presti did in 2023-24) and would be in position to make those additions in the offseason with just as much flexibility but more information on how best to use it.
This would also prevent the Pistons from giving up too early on a guy like Jaden Ivey, whose trade value has tanked and who could present Detroit with a great opportunity for a team-friendly contract for a guy with huge upside.
Cons: The Pistons miss their chance. The East will likely be a bit better next season, and you never know what could happen with injuries or player development. Ask Boston. Ask Indiana. Ask the Hawks, who were in the East Finals just a few years ago and now had to trade Trae Young for pennies on the dollar. You can’t just assume linear progress or that everything will continue to work.
If I had to guess right now, I’d say Trajan Langdon finds a middle ground between these two approaches, as it’s hard to see them do nothing at all, but it’s also hard to see them pushing in their chips for a big move.