The Pistons have largely stood pat this offseason while the rest of the East has made substantial moves. Detroit's complacency has drawn a lot of criticism, but it's really a show of patience as the Pistons determine exactly how splashy their next move needs to be.
Assuming Jalen Duren is back for next season, he and Ausar Thompson will have even bigger offensive roles to fill. And their success (or lack thereof) should determine how big of a move the Pistons need to make for proper playoff contention. The list of potential trade targets to bring in a second option ranges all the way from fringe All-Stars like Norman Powell to established Hall of Famers like Kevin Durant, who might be the biggest fish available on the market.
The Pistons will make a calculated assessment this season
Obviously, the necessary trade package to acquire Powell vs. Durant should be very different. The Pistons might truly not know yet which way they lean, since they are still evaluating the level of creation currently on the roster. Last season, the Pistons didn't get a great opportunity to learn their offensive potential because they leaned into their strong defense and relied on Cade Cunningham to largely carry the offense.
Next season must be different, even if it costs some regular season wins compared to last season's 60-win pace. As we saw across two separate series, Cade cannot do it all himself in the playoffs. His best supporting piece in the playoffs, Tobias Harris, has also left the team this offseason. So there's a big hole for players like Duren and Thompson to fill.
Last season started with Thompson getting more reps as a ball-handler and creator. However, that fizzled out when the Pistons realized he could be more impactful by focusing his efforts on being the best perimeter defender in the world. His dominant defense fueled the Pistons' regular season success, but also cost them a year of data on his offensive growth.
Duren, on the other hand, dominated in the regular season but fell off in the postseason. Ideally, the upcoming regular season will be more representative of a playoff environment for him, now that teams have the blueprint for neutralizing him. While that may make his life more difficult and lead to less easy wins, it'll be better for the Pistons to assess his playoff readiness early.
A big trade will be coming
Either way, it's highly unrealistic for Duren and Thompson to provide all the offensive help that Cunningham needs. The Pistons should make a move to add another shot creator with resilient playoff scoring. But again, the level of need will depend on Duren and Thompson's growth.
If Cade's supporting cast utterly fails him again this season, then perhaps Detroit does need to go all-in on a talent like Durant. But if the young Pistons successfully step up to the plate, then a smaller move - Powell and Tyler Herro are likely trade candidates - makes more sense.
Fans can be frustrated all they want by the Pistons' lack of urgency, but their approach will pay off in the long run. Asset management is hugely important to building a contender these days, and Detroit's front office is just doing its best not to give up more trade assets than needed.
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