The Pistons were shocked to see another East rival get stronger when the Celtics traded Jaylen Brown to the 76ers. The move could see the 76ers emerge as another powerhouse to challenge the Pistons, but also gave Detroit some relief in how little Philadelphia had to give up for Brown - just Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks.
Seeing that trade package, the Pistons should be confident that trade value around the league for their remaining targets, especially Trey Murphy III, is dropping to reasonable levels. If Brown - a former Finals MVP coming off an All-NBA Second team season - is only fetching a couple picks in return, surely the Pelicans must realize they can't ask any more for Murphy. With that considered, the Pistons should feel even more urgency to get a deal done to bring in a difference-maker while the market seems right.
The Pistons need to leverage the Brown trade details
Brown's age and contract may have been working against him in the trade market compared to Murphy, but his trade return was still shockingly low. It's hard to believe no other team wanted to match the Sixers' offer but matching salaries may also have been difficult for most teams. Brown is slotted to make over $57 million next season, and even more the two seasons after.
Sending back George helped the Sixers match salary without giving up a valuable asset. George will make the exact same amount as Brown next season. But Brown is still in the prime of his career and playing better than ever at age 28 while George is on the decline at 36 with serious injury concerns.
In essence, the Celtics not only gave up Brown but also took on George's bad contract, all for the price of two first-round picks and two second-round picks. Knowing that, the Pelicans don't have any right to seek more than two first-rounders for Murphy. That's great news for a Pistons front office still searching for their elite shooting guard after making some moves to start the offseason.
Detroit still has a big move left
Although the Pistons have already been busy this offseason, they still have the draft ammunition to take a big swing when they're ready. Murphy has been the name rumored for years, but he doesn't necessarily have to be the one coming to Detroit. Brown's trade showed that top trade targets can end up in destinations that were never reported until finalized.
Maybe there are other elite shooting guards around the league who are available for the right price. If the Pistons are willing to take a gamble with two first-round picks, a handful of seconds and a young player, they might find themselves with a return comparable to Jaylen Brown.
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