As the trade deadline approaches, the Detroit Pistons will continue to be named in rumors for just about everyone, but if you are hoping for a blockbuster trade, all signs point to it not happening.
Both Trajan Langdon and JB Bickerstaff have spoken about letting this roster grow together and giving them a chance to prove themselves and coach Bickerstaff recently praised Langdon for “having the resolve to not listen to outside noise” when it comes to making a big trade.
Insider Marc Stein (subscription) echoed those thoughts and said all signs point to the Pistons standing pat, saying, “the early noise about the Pistons is that they don’t want to go out and make some splashy trade.”
The Pistons could make a moderate move to add a shooter or consolidate some of the depth at the end of their roster, but they don’t need a blockbuster trade, and there may not be one available anyway.
The Detroit Pistons aren’t gutting their roster in a big trade
The Pistons have been connected to everyone from Anthony Davis to Lauri Markkanen and even to Giannis Antetokounmpo, but there are very real reasons they aren’t going to happen.
I’m not sure where the AD rumors were coming from, but it doesn’t appear the Pistons were ever interested, which makes sense, as he’s not a great fit with Jalen Duren and is a walking injury waiting to happen.
Markkanen would cost the guts of their roster, and he’s not the kind of player you make that kind of trade for, as he’s not a true number one option but is being paid like one.
Giannis is even less realistic, though he is the type of player you’d consider radically reshaping your roster to acquire, as he’s still a top five guy.
Guys like Trey Murphy III and Michael Porter Jr. are in the next tier of potential trade targets, but New Orleans is going to want a fortune to seriously consider trading TMIII and MPJ would require multiple rotation players to match salary.
There isn’t a clear trade out there for the Pistons, and do they really need one? I am Homer #1 but am ready to run through a wall for the team we have and think they can win the Eastern Conference as is, especially if Jaden Ivey starts playing well and for longer minutes soon.
I look at OKC and the way they resisted the urge to make a splashy trade and how it paid off. The Pistons should be looking more for their own version of an Alex Caruso trade than one that disassembles the roster they are building.
For now, it appears Langdon is going to back the team he has, but that can change quickly, so it still wouldn’t be shocking to see the Pistons go big, but it would go against the approach this front office has taken so far.