NBA Insider Shams Charania reported on Tuesday morning that the Detroit Pistons are expected to be a potential suitor for Anthony Davis ahead of the February NBA trade deadline. While Davis is still a supremely talented player, this is one move the Pistons should absolutely be avoiding.
In his article, Charania writes: The Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors are expected to be suitors for Davis, league sources told ESPN.
We know that AD is a game-changer on the interior. His rebounding, shot-making ability and interior defense are all real reasons why plenty of teams that feel like they're a piece away are going to be interested in trading for him. But that's just the thing: Detroit isn't a piece away, they're already at the top of the Eastern Conference. Making a rash move for Davis now would be a potentially grave mistake.
This version of the Pistons fits together perfectly, and this kind of complete team is something the fanbase hasn't seen in a long, long time. Cade Cunningham is playing the best basketball of his career, anchoring an offense that’s built on poise and smart decision-making. Jalen Duren has taken another leap as a rim protector and vertical spacer, and Detroit’s perimeter defense has become one of the most disciplined in the Association.
The Pistons should avoid bringing on Anthony Davis
Detroit is thriving because of the continuity and chemistry they've built internally, not because they’ve made desperate swings at big names. Trading for Davis would disrupt the identity they’ve worked so hard to build, by trying to throw an extra layer on top of what's already there.
Not to mention there's also the question of availability. Even at his peak, Davis struggled to stay consistently healthy across an entire season. The Pistons' rise to the top of the East has been driven by reliability, and adding one of the league’s most unpredictable health cases into the middle of a young, thriving roster would introduce a level of risk that Detroit simply doesn't need.
Anthony Davis simply doesn't fit this team's timeline. The Pistons may be a little ahead of schedule (in the best way possible) but their winning formula is sustainable, and their ceiling will rise naturally as their young core continues to mature. Making a blockbuster move now would send a message that the front office doesn’t trust what this group has built.
Detroit does not need Anthony Davis. They just need to keep growing what's already become one of the best teams in the NBA internally. If anything, this team should be doubling down on what’s already working, not jeopardizing it with unnecessary star chasing.