The Detroit Pistons had a productive trade deadline that has mostly garnered positive reviews from fans and experts around the league.
There is always going to be a group of fans who want the team to trade for a superstar every trade deadline and are disappointed when they don’t, but most realistic evaluations were positive for the Pistons.
Aside from the players involved, here are some of the highlights of the trade deadline for the Pistons:
-They didn’t give up any assets. The Pistons still have all of their young core and will now have the rest of the season to continue to evaluate them. They didn’t get caught up in the moment and do something they might regret later.
-The Pistons didn’t take on any long-term money. Both Dennis Schroder and Lindy Waters III are on expiring deals, so won’t in any way impact Detroit’s ability to make trades or sign free agents next summer. The Pistons only have 10 guaranteed contracts for next season, so will have roster spots and at least some cap space.
-They didn’t cut minutes for young players. Schroder and Waters III aren’t going to take minutes from any of their key guys. The exception is Marcus Sasser, who is likely out of the rotation now, but Sasser was a 9th or 10th guy anyway. The Pistons got an upgrade at a position of need but didn’t disrupt their rotation or chemistry.
-The Pistons didn’t give up on Jaden Ivey. Ivey is not likely to play again this season, but the Pistons haven’t forgotten about him and didn’t do anything to indicate that he is not part of the future.
Trajan Langdon liked his team and gave them a vote of confidence by keeping all of them and getting them some help without affecting the long-term plans.
That leads us to next offseason, which could be a franchise-altering one for the Detroit Pistons.
Detroit Pistons offseason: Is a big star coming?
If things continue as they are, then the Pistons are going to lose their 2025 Draft pick, which is a good thing for the health of the franchise, as it not only shows they are finally heading in the right direction but actually garners them more flexibility.
The Pistons have been hampered in trades (which was a good thing in retrospect considering it was Troy Weaver making them) by a pick they owed the Rockets, then Knicks and now Timberwolves, which at one point looked like it would never convey.
Because you can’t trade picks two years in a row (unless you have extras), the Pistons had to keep pushing that date back every year the pick didn’t convey.
It would currently be the 17th pick and go to Minnesota, which means the Pistons will then be eligible to trade their 2027, 2029 and 2031 picks if they so desired, a package they would not be able to offer if they kept their pick in 2025.
They also picked up three more second-round picks which could be useful in moving up in the draft or as sweeteners in a deal.
That doesn’t mean the Pistons are going to trade all of their picks to go all-in on a star this summer, as Langdon knows the value of draft picks and isn’t going to waste them carelessly unless the right star becomes available.
With Tobias Harris’ soon-to-be expiring contract and control off all their future picks, the Pistons will be in position to make a big trade if a guy like Devin Booker (just throwing a name out there) were to be made available.
Detroit may not have made an earth-shattering trade at the trade deadline, but Langdon made smart moves that helped the team now and maintained their flexibility moving forward.