Trajan Langdon made it clear that the Detroit Pistons aren’t likely to make a big move this summer, but that won’t stop them from being included in a million trade rumors, including some that don’t make any sense.
That’s the case with Jrue Holiday, who the Celtics will likely try to trade this offseason as they cut payroll and retool their roster.
The Pistons were recently named as one of the top destinations for Holiday, and in the abstract, it does make some sense. They could use a veteran guard, especially one who can defend, and Holiday has been a key part of two championship teams.
He can handle the ball, take some pressure off Cade Cunningham and is still a stopper on the perimeter.
Bleacher Report came up with a possible deal that looks like this:
They mentioned that Boston might have to send their first-round pick back to Detroit, which would make this somewhat palatable, but even with the pick, this would be a painful trade to make.
I love Jrue Holiday, and all things being equal, would love to have him in Detroit, but this trade has some big red flags the Pistons can’t ignore.
Jrue Holiday’s contract
If Holiday had one or even two years left on his deal, this is something the Pistons might consider, but he has three years left on his contract at $32, 34 and 37 million, a steep price for a player who will be 37-years-old at the end of the deal.
Hear that sound? It’s the sound of the Pistons’ financial flexibility for the next three years flying out the window. Trajan Langdon has made it a point not to take on any bad long-term contracts, no matter the payoff, and he’d be wise to continue that approach.
The potential extensions for Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren would overlap with this contract, so this would be an expensive roster very quickly and limit what Detroit could do.
The Pistons would be without a power forward
I don’t know if B/R knows this, but Tobias Harris is currently the only power forward on the roster other than Bobi Klintman, who has yet to play a meaningful NBA minute.
This would leave a huge hole for a team that is already undersized and now is without a legit power forward option. B/R lists a possible starting five of Cade Cunningham, Jrue Holiday, Tim Hardaway Jr, Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren, so this would not only boot Jaden Ivey to the bench, but assumes that the Pistons are going to bring back THJ as their starting small forward, which is unlikely. Same with moving Ausar Thompson to the four full time. No thanks.
Also, why are the Pistons giving up picks here? The Celtics are the team that is being bailed out, not Detroit, so surely, they should be the ones giving up picks. Harris isn’t the versatile defender that Holiday is, but he held his own in the playoffs and put up better offensive numbers.
Harris is too important to just give away, especially if the Pistons have to give up picks to do it.
The Pistons lose a valuable expiring contract
When the Pistons signed Tobias Harris, one of the biggest benefits was the short-term nature of the deal, as his money will be coming off the books right about the time the Pistons should be ready to make a big move.
They’ll have a better understanding of their roster and what they need to add around their young core. Right now, Harris is Detroit’s only real tradable contract and the only one big enough to help offset the cost of a star trade.
You need big expiring contracts to make a deal, and the Pistons would be giving their only one away and paying handsomely to do it.
This is another trade that just uses Detroit as a vessel for another team’s problem. I don’t think B/R got the memo, but the Pistons are no longer in the business of helping other teams for no reason.