Harsh lesson could cost the Pistons if they ignore it

The Houston Rockets are on the verge of being swept by the Luka-less Lakers less than a year after they were beaten by the Warriors in the first round. Houston is learning a harsh lesson that should be a cautionary tale to the Detroit Pistons. 

Last season, the Rockets broke out and claimed the 2nd seed in the Western Conference with a young and exciting team. But they decided they needed a big move to get over the hump, so went out and traded for Kevin Durant, giving up Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, a #10 pick and a slew of second rounders to get him. 

As great as Durant was this season, the deal didn’t work out as expected, as the Suns were actually better without Durant, and the Rockets got worse. Houston won the same number of games as last season, but it was only good enough for the #5 seed instead of #2. 

The results are likely to be the same this season, and now the Rockets are stuck with 37-year-old Durant for two more seasons after this one, and some heads are likely to roll in the offseason, starting with their coach. 

To be fair, losing Fred VanVleet in the preseason was a gigantic blow to Houston’s chances, and Durant had a great season for Houston, but the results are what they are. 

Houston now has little financial flexibility to improve and may not get VanVleet back next season, as he has a player option he may decline in search of a bigger deal. 

Houston tried to skip steps by going after Durant and are learning a harsh lesson that will likely cost their coach his job. I hope the Pistons are paying attention. 

The Pistons will only get one shot at a big move 

Like the Rockets last season, the Pistons unexpectedly climbed to the top of their conference ahead of schedule, and if they flame out early in the playoffs, will be tempted to do the same thing Houston did last summer, which is splash out for a star player. 

The difference is that the Pistons don’t have big contracts or nearly as many draft assets as the Rockets had at their disposal. Houston also had a young player in Jalen Green that they didn’t mind giving up. 

The Pistons don’t have the surplus assets, so they will only get one chance at landing a star via trade, and it would potentially cost them a young player or two that they do care about. 

It has to be the right guy or it’s not worth it 

There has been non-stop talk about how the Pistons need a second star to flank Cade Cunningham, and the two games against Orlando have not quelled those concerns. 

But if the Pistons are going to make a big move, it has to be for the right guy, as there are not takebacks and they don’t want to end up in a situation like Houston is in, where they may have to dig even deeper into their assets to get yet another player.

Fans don’t want to hear this, but Detroit would be far better off running it back with moderate additions than to give up multiple players and all of their picks for a nebulous upgrade that could blow up in their faces. 

Look at OKC, who never made a KD-type move and is set up to win titles for the next decade. Skipping steps may be the popular choice for impatient fans, but Detroit would be better off emulating OKC than Houston. 

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