The Detroit Pistons could have completely shaken up their roster this summer. They were the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference last year, and this summer, they had the contracts on the books that they needed to make a giant trade. A trade to give Cade Cunningham a co-star. A trade that could have helped them establish themselves as a top team in the East. But they didn't.
Instead, Detroit decided to make smaller moves. The Pistons traded for Isaiah Joe. The Pistons traded for Taurean Prince and Gary Harris. The Pistons signed John Collins in free agency. They made small moves around their core, and technically, they are still in the middle of another. Because Detroit still has to re-sign Jalen Duren.
Detroit has caught some flak for their decision to sit back and make small moves. But they might be right to have done so. Because making the wrong move is way worse than making none at all.
Pistons were smart not to make a big trade
Let's say that the Pistons decided to make a massive trade. What if they had traded for Kyrie Irving or Kawhi Leonard or Brandon Ingram or Jaylen Brown?
If they had landed one of those players, on paper, they probably would have been one of the favorites in the Eastern conference. The national media and the public would have sung their praises all offseason.
Everyone likely would have seen them as the favorites to be the No. 1 seed in the East all over again, but this time, with a better chance to make a deep playoff run.
But what if it didn't work? What if whoever the Pistons added in a blockbuster trade didn't mesh well with Cunningham? What if the Pistons fell short in the playoffs all over again?
Well, then the Pistons would have been in an even worse position. Because not only would they have already made their big-swing trade, but they would also have been left without assets to make another one.
Because if the Pistons had traded for Irving or Leonard or Ingram or Brown, it would have almost certainly taken at least a couple of first-round picks. That would have started to empty Detroit's draft cabinet.
And in reality, none of those players feel like perfect fits. None of them feel like the type of player good enough to get the Pistons over the hump. Instead, Detroit should focus on rounding out depth before gunning for another star.
So, while the Pistons definitely made the safe choice, in this case, the safe choice might have been the right one.
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