Even though the Detroit Pistons have the best record in the Eastern Conference, they are still being included in endless trade rumors, most of which they shouldn’t touch with a long stick.
It’s natural to think about how a good team can become great, or how a playoff team like the Pistons can vault into real title contention.
But given the way things are shaking up in OKC, gutting your roster to chase a title right now would be foolish, as there aren’t many moves the Pistons could make that would make them favorites over the Thunder.
But fans are going to fan, and pundits are going to throw out their two cents, so these rumors aren’t going away even though most of them make no sense. Here are some players and teams to avoid.
The Kings
Although there hasn’t been anything official, I’ve been hearing a lot of rumblings about possible trades with the Kings.
I do love Keon Ellis, so if the Pistons could find a way to trade for him, great, but otherwise, the Kings are mostly poison.
Keegan Murray is not likely getting traded, and would you really want him? He’s locked into a long-term deal, not all that good, is already 25 years old and is shooting 26 percent from long range, which is supposed to be his strength. Pass.
I’ve vacillated on Zach LaVine, going from “NO WAY IN HELL” to the occasional “ehhhh, Maybe,” but now I’m back to the former. The Pistons need scoring, but LaVine hasn’t won anywhere he’s gone, and there has to be something to that other than bad luck and teammates.
The rest of the Kings, including Malik Monk (hard pass) and Dennis Schroder, are overpaid and under contract for two more seasons. When you factor in the money involved, I’d rather just have Daniss Jenkins, who doesn't have the stink of the Kangz on him.
The Kings keep coming up, but unless you are talking Ellis, the Pistons should stay away.
Lauri Markkanen
So sick of this one, especially the way all of the national pundits (and even some Pistons writers) keep saying Markkanen is the “ideal” or “perfect” fit. How so?
He’s terrible on defense no matter how many points he scores, and if ever there was a player who did not personify Pistons basketball, it’s Markkanen.
Danny Ainge is now saying he won’t trade him anyway, which really just means the price tag is so astronomical that no one would even try.
Too expensive, too hurt, too poor a defender and a guy who hasn’t even appeared in a playoff game. Oh, and you have to gut your roster and entire draft future to get him. Hard, hard, hard pass.
Anthony Davis
Why?
I’ve been seeing Pistons fans who think this is a good idea, and I just don’t get it. Obviously, Davis is a great player, but his name may as well be “when healthy” because you have to add that caveat every time you talk about him.
Also, do you think the Mavs are just going to give away the guy they traded Luka Doncic for? No chance. Let Chicago overpay for Davis and pay him $60 million a year to not play.
The Pistons need more of an Alex Caruso trade than an Anthony Davis trade, and luckily Trajan Langdon knows that and isn’t as impulsive as some fans and pundits.