Isaiah Stewart could be one of the first Pistons on the trading block this summer as Detroit looks to shore up its weaknesses. One trade rumor floating around has Stewart being exchanged for Max Strus of the Cleveland Cavaliers, which is actually perfect for the Pistons. Stewart has become expendable thanks to the Pistons' incredible depth at center and Strus would bring a much-needed 3-and-D wing back to Detroit.
Max Strus is a perfect missing piece in Detroit
This proposed trade would make sense for the Pistons because Strus is a great role player at the small forward spot. The Pistons lack many two-way wings to alleviate pressure from their young stars on both ends, but Strus can fill that key niche. He's even got some creation abilities attacking closeouts that could solve another key Pistons flaw.
The Pistons saw first-hand how effective Strus can be as a flamethrower shooter and solid defender in their second-round matchup against the Cavs. In that series, Strus was one of the primary defenders on Cade Cunningham and also shot well on the other hand. He finished the series averaging about 10 points per game, including an electric 20 points off the bench in a crucial Game 5.
Strus also did a solid job guarding Cade, including some clutch steals that swung certain games. Without his defensive tenacity, the Cavs may not have pulled out enough close wins to advance past the Pistons. Unfortunately for the Cavs, they were swept by the Knicks in the next round - which may lead to some interest in Cleveland to make big trades this summer.
Parting ways with Stewart will be tough but manageable
Stewart has a special place in Detroit's heart as the longest-tenured Piston and a bastion of intense, physical play. But despite his regular season strengths, Stewart doesn't have enough versatility in his game to reliably contribute in deeper playoff rounds. This year, he was a complete non-factor in the second round against the Cavaliers on both ends.
Over the last two seasons, Stewart established himself as one of the best defenders in the NBA on a per-minute basis. He even improved his offensive game by focusing on finishing better around the rim and opening up his 3-point shooting. But his limitations on that end have led to struggles for Detroit against playoff defenses, and his defense isn't quite enough to make up for it.
Flipping Stewart for a career 37% shooter from three in Strus would undoubtedly be a win for the Pistons. It would add better depth on the wing, where they need more two-way help. And Strus also has the versatility to play multiple positions and give the Pistons more optionality.
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