All signs point to the Detroit Pistons not making a blockbuster trade at the deadline, as they don’t want to part with the players it would take to land a guy like Lauri Markkanen, Anthony Davis or even Trey Murphy III.
The latter is the most interesting option, as he fills a lot of needs for the Pistons as a rangy shooter who can defend some, is on the right timeline and on a reasonable contract for the foreseeable future.
But all of those things are going to cost, and if the Pelicans do make TMIII available, there will be plenty of teams lined up with their best offers. New Orleans has given a framework for the deal, which would require a promising young player, veteran contract and multiple first-round picks.
The Pistons may not be willing to part with that package, but the Pelicans do have other players that should draw their interest if New Orleans decides to blow up their roster.
The Pistons are currently 2nd in defensive rating in the league, so it’s clearly been their strength, one they can add to by trading for one of two Pelicans’ defenders.
Jose Alvarado ticks two boxes for the Pistons
I’ve written about Alvarado before, and he’s a player I’d love to have in Detroit.
Alvarado is an unyielding on-the-ball defender who pesters the other team the entire length of the court, so he’d fit right in with Detroit’s defensive culture. He’s also a decent point guard who can handle the ball, set up teammates and shoot the 3-ball some.
Alvarado wouldn’t be a flashy name, but he’d come much cheaper than most of the options we are hearing about and wouldn’t disrupt the roster or culture. I love Grand Theft Alvarado, and if the Pistons could get him without giving up a first-round pick (or at least heavily protecting it), he’s an option they should explore.
I’ve talked a lot about team chemistry, which is one of the primary reasons I don’t want the Pistons to make a splashy move that disrupts their mojo, but trading for Alvarado wouldn’t be in that category.
The Pistons could dominate the perimeter with Herb Jones
Herb Jones would be a more costly option than Alvarado both in terms of assets and contract, but he’d still come far cheaper than Trey Murphy III and would give the Pistons another of the best perimeter defenders in the league.
Jones doesn’t offer much on offense, though he can knock down a corner three and did have one season shooting over 41 percent from long range. He’d be reunited with his old shooting coach Fred Vinson, who Jones credits with helping him improve.
But Jones is mostly known for his defense, as he’s made 1st-team All Defense and would give the Pistons three of the top perimeter defenders in the game with Ausar Thompson and Ron Holland II.
I know a lot of fans want a shooter, but there aren’t many available, so why not just lean into your strength? JB Bickerstaff could run out lineups that always had an elite defender or two on the floor when he needed a stop, and Jones is a total team player who will do whatever it takes to win, so he’d fit right in.
He’s also on a team-friendly deal that only goes for two more seasons, so there wouldn’t be any huge long-term commitment. The question is what it would cost the Pistons and whether they could land Jones without giving up one of their young core.
Trajan Landon was part of the group that drafted Jones in the second round, so he knows precisely what he’d be getting, which is another dawg defender.
Jones probably isn’t worth selling out the core to get, but at the right price, he’d be an ideal boost to the Pistons’ biggest strength.