Insider Marc Stein continued to throw cold water on the idea of a blockbuster trade at the deadline for the Detroit Pistons.
Speaking on the All-NBA podcast, Stein repeated his reporting that the Pistons weren’t looking to make a splashy move but did leave the door open for them to do something “smaller in nature.”
This lines up with reports from several outlets that agree the Pistons are happy with the way things are going and not looking for a big shake up.
I’ve agreed with this stance all along, as Trajan Langdon has shown no indication he wants to skip steps, even if the Eastern Conference is there for the taking. That doesn’t mean he won’t be aggressively looking for ways to upgrade his roster, because he will, but it does mean we aren’t likely to see key members of the rotation shipped out for a big name.
I can’t speak for all fans of course, but I do get the feeling most are looking for that type of “smaller” upgrade rather than a splashy move like Anthony Davis, as we finally have sustainable success in reach and don’t want to risk it on a perilous pipe dream.
But I also get the sense that fans won’t be happy if the Pistons don’t do something, as windows can close quickly in the NBA, and this might be their chance to do something special in the playoffs.
Detroit Pistons: Finding the perfect trade
Trying to walk the line between getting an upgrade and not disrupting team chemistry is going to be tough for Trajan Langdon, who probably didn’t expect to find himself in his position so early in his tenure as team president.
He took over the worst team in basketball fresh off a 14-win season, and his team is now talked about as a possible contender for the East, so it was a rapid ascension that brought tough decisions earlier than expected.
I can understand the temptation to cash in some chips and go for it now, as the East is wide open, and they could make the kind of run to the Finals that Indiana made last year. Let’s not forget the Pacers took the mighty Thunder to seven games before losing their best player, so they were on the cusp of a title.
The flip side of that is that the Pistons are 21-5, playing as well as anyone and have a strong identity that they don’t want to disrupt. They may be able to get to the Finals as is, and if not, will have a much better understanding of their team next offseason to go along with plenty of flexibility.
It’s always seemed as if Langdon was building towards that given the way he has structured contracts for Harris, Robinson and LeVert, but their unexpected rise to the top of the East may have sped up the plans.
Marc Stein mentioned Keon Ellis as one of the only 3-and-D possibilities, and though he didn’t connect them directly to the Pistons, this seems more like the kind of complementary move they might make.
We won’t know until the deadline has passed, but it’s the biggest question Trajan Langdon faces, as he tries to decide between pure organic growth and speeding up the process with a quick injection of talent.