The Detroit Pistons won a basketball game yesterday but no one noticed, as the league was still buzzing after the inexplicable Luka Doncic trade that sent one of the league’s best players to the hated Lakers.
I wrote my initial thoughts here, which were mostly centered around what the Dallas Mavericks were smoking when they decided to make this deal in secret without even shopping Luka around to get the best deal.
What hasn’t been discussed much is what this means for the Lakers, who just got the next face of their franchise before he even hits his prime. They are set for the future post-LeBron James, but still have him in the present and would still like to chase something this season.
Trading Anthony Davis for Luka Doncic was beyond a no-brainer for the Lakers, but it did leave a glaring hole, as they lost one of the league’s best rim protectors. With Doncic, LeBron and Austin Reaves as their perimeter defenders, rim protection is going to be even more important if the Lakers want to have a passable defense.
That means LA is not likely finished dealing before the trade deadline and will be scouring the league for rim protectors to back up their stars.
They’ll almost certainly be calling the Detroit Pistons.
Detroit Pistons trades: Isaiah Stewart to the LA Lakers
Just writing that sentence made me sick to my stomach, as I can’t think of a scenario I would like less, as Stew is one of my favorite Pistons players and the Lakers my least favorite team.
But Stewart fits what they need as one of the league’s best rim protectors, currently ranked in the 97-99th percentile in most relevant stats when it comes to rim protection.
He’d be perfect for the Lakers as a defensive stopper and enforcer who doesn’t need shots to make an impact.
That doesn’t mean the Pistons should or will trade Stewart, but I’d be shocked if the Lakers didn’t come calling about him.
What could the Lakers offer for Isaiah Stewart?
Stewart is one of the more valuable backup centers in the league, so the Lakers aren’t going to get him for free, and if the Pistons were to move Stewart, they’d have to be handsomely rewarded.
That’s where this scenario falls apart, as the Lakers don’t have much to offer, though they still have a first-round pick available somehow, as Dallas apparently didn’t need it to trade one of the best players ever when he’s 25 years old.
Whatever the opposite of “Executive of the Year” is, Nico Harrison just won it for the foreseeable future, as he could have gotten far more for Luka had they made it known he was available.
Other than that, the Lakers have a bunch of contracts that no one wants, including the Pistons, as most of them extend past this season. If I were the Pistons, I would have to get Dalton Knecht and that 2031 first to even consider gifting Stewart to the Lakers.
Ultimately, the Lakers will likely find a cheaper option, but Trajan Langdon is probably going to get a call.