The Pistons made an infamous trade with the Bulls at the deadline to acquire more shooting, ending up with Kevin Huerter instead of fellow Chicago guard Coby White. White had a slightly higher trade value, but he just proved his worth in an electric Play-In shootout for the Hornets. As the playoffs kick off, the Pistons may now be wondering if they should’ve gone after White instead.
Coby White is one of the league’s most underrated scorersÂ
Prior to getting traded, White had gone overlooked on the Bulls for years despite his impressive production. Last season, he averaged 20 points per game while shooting 45% from the field and an impressive 37% from three on a difficult shot diet. Even if he wasn’t discussed with other top scorers, his offensive value was clear on tape.
White could’ve been a great solution to the Pistons’ lack of reliable perimeter creators outside of Cade Cunningham. He’s more than capable of getting his own shot whenever needed, but can also play off the ball well thanks to his elite shooting. He’s even added a decent playmaking dimension to his game, averaging almost 5 assists per game for the Bulls before being traded.
Against the Heat in the first Play-In Game, White showed off the full arsenal. He finished with 19 huge points off the bench, including shooting 5-of-8 from deep. And perhaps no shot in the game was bigger than his fadeaway contested three to tie the game with 10 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
The Pistons are still content in their decisionÂ
It’s easy to think of greener pastures for Pistons transactions whenever an obtainable player has a breakout game. But the Pistons should have no true regrets after finishing the season 60-22 for the top seed in the East. They’re equipped to go on a deep playoff run with their current roster.
Even though there may be some clear weaknesses of the team, there are also overwhelming strengths that other players might not necessarily provide. For example, Huerter is a much better defender than White. His defensive fortitude has helped him fit into the Pistons’ team identity even when his shot struggled.
And now that Huerter has found his shooting stroke again, he’s proving to be a much more complete player than White. White is undeniably a better scorer, especially in isolation, but Huerter fits into a utility bench role better. Whether or not the Pistons need another elite scorer like White, only time and playoff matchups will tell.
For now, the Pistons are happy with their trade return even if Kevin Huerter doesn’t quite reach the same single-game highs as Coby White.Â
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