A surprising .500 start for the Detroit Pistons has turned speculation about them selling off parts and cap space for draft assets to the possibility of them adding talent at the deadline.
I’ll go on the record again saying that I am ok if the Pistons decide to just ride this season out without making a big roster-altering move. This team is fun, the young players are developing, Cade Cunningham has taken a star turn and they are competitive in the mediocre Eastern Conference.
Some of the risky trade proposals I’ve seen where the Pistons go for guys like Zach LaVine or Brandon Ingram are interesting, but ultimately represent big risk for moderate short-term gains.
If the Pistons did absolutely nothing this trade season, they’d have a big wad of cap space next summer with Tim Hardaway Jr. coming off the books added to what they already have. They’d have a big expiring contract in Tobias Harris, all of their young players, and potentially control of all of their future draft picks.
And who knows what could come up. What if the Suns flame out and Devin Booker becomes available? He’s just one example, but the Pistons would be in a great position to go all-in for whatever star is out there and that could include names that don’t have giant red flags attached to them.
Being patient may not be as exciting, but it’s probably the smarter move for the Pistons
All of that being said, if the Pistons made a move for a player who could help them I would welcome it, I just don’t think they should sell out to do it, especially when they could be in a better position in the summer with more information at their disposal.
Trade speculation is the engine of the NBA media machine, and given the context (cap space, open roster spot, tradable contracts), the Pistons are going to be in a lot of rumors and I am sure I’ll have plenty to say.
But when you look at how teams like OKC and Cleveland are dominating right now, it’s not with a “super” team full of stars, but with one superstar at the top and a lot of quality depth around them.
They are also two of the best defensive teams in the NBA and have built their culture around that identity. The Pistons would be better off mimicking those traits than to try and take shortcuts by trading away depth for a risky star.
I say enjoy this team, and this season, which has been a fun one with some unbelievable games already. I wanted entertaining and competitive basketball and we’ve gotten it, which is why I’m ok with being patient and seeing where this thing leads, waiting for a better opportunity to make the right big move.