The NBA's biggest trade target just hit the market with reports that the Bucks are discussing potential trade destinations with Giannis Antetokounmpo. Giannis would be a dream acquisition for the Pistons, but Detroit can benefit even if they don't end up with the Greek Freak. The Pistons have more financial flexibility than most teams in playoff contention, which can pay dividends as a trade facilitator.
The Pistons have the opportunity to make some savvy moves
Giannis' preferred destination has been cited as the Knicks since the summer, but the framework of a trade there isn't favorable for the Bucks. New York lacks desirable draft picks or young talent that the Bucks would seek out in a rebuild. But they do have strong two-way players that can fit into the Pistons' strong defense and help them win now.
The Pistons are clearly in need of better shooting on the roster while maintaining their strong defensive identity. An ideal addition would be the Knicks' OG Anunoby, a perfect 3-and-D wing for the modern NBA. If the Pistons can sneak into a trade and grab Anunoby in exchange for young talent going to Milwaukee, they can jump into championship contention right away.
Anunoby can be the missing piece that takes the Pistons to the next level. He's a reliable outside shooter who averages 38% from three for his career. He's also one of the league's top wing defenders and would make a fearsome duo with Ausar Thompson (or even replace Thompson well if needed).
While Anunoby is a core part of the Knicks' starting unit, they would be more than willing to give him up in a trade for Giannis. But the Bucks would probably prefer younger talent that can fit the timeline of a rebuild, such as Jaden Ivey or Ron Holland II. The Pistons can take advantage of this mismatch between the Bucks and Knicks to build their own contender in the background of a blockbuster trade.
The Pistons might be hesitant to facilitate a Giannis-Knicks trade for fear that it would make New York unstoppable in the East. But it's a risk worth taking due to timelines and injury concerns. Giannis is undoubtedly a top-5 player in the league when healthy, but has faced increasing injuries in recent seasons as he gets to the wrong side of 30.
Facilitating the proposed trade above would be a huge gamble for the Pistons. It would be counting on dysfunction for the Knicks once Giannis arrives there. But it would also set up the Pistons extremely well for the next few seasons. Anunoby is a little younger than Giannis at 28 and would still give the Pistons strong contributions as Detroit's young core reaches its peak.