While the rest of the NBA is fixated on who will trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Detroit Pistons have a chance to make a splash of their own. With a roster that's already pacing the Eastern Conference, Detroit can look out West for a trade that not only fits the culture but fills a need.
By targeting Sacramento Kings shooting guard Keon Ellis, the Pistons could land the point of attack defender and 3-and-D specialist they need to take the next step toward contending.
Detroit is No. 1 in the Eastern Conference and has a shorter list of weaknesses than most expected them to. Unfortunately, both Jaden Ivey and Marcus Sasser have been hindered by injuries, and the loss of Malik Beasley wasn't as perfectly addressed as some might've presumed by the acquisition of Duncan Robinson.
If the Pistons are willing to gamble on a pending free agent in Ellis, they could potentially make a move that brings them a healthy step closer to contending.
Ellis, 25, has seemingly fallen out of favor with the Kings during the final season of his current contract. His minutes have been slashed from 24.4 per game in 2024-25 to 16.7 in 2025-26 despite the fact that he's generally regarded as Sacramento's best 3-and-D player.
If the Kings aren't interested in exploring Ellis' potential and developing a long-term partnership with him, then the Pistons shouldn't hesitate to capitalize on their mistake.
Keon Ellis would be perfect for the Pistons' culture and rotation
On the offensive end of the floor, Ellis has solidified his place as one of the best three-point shooters in the NBA. He's shot 42.5 percent from beyond the arc across 174 career games, averaging 1.4 conversions per contest and 2.6 per 36 minutes.
In addition to shooting efficiently in a general sense, Ellis is burying 44.1 percent of his catch-and-shoot three-point field goals in 2025-26 and converted 43.3 percent of his attempts in 2024-25.
For a Pistons team that ranks No. 20 in three-point field goal percentage and No. 29 in conversions, Ellis is a dream fit for his shooting alone. He can instantly step in and play off of Cade Cunningham, offering support along the wings as a floor-spacing option.
Ellis is also quick off the bounce, thus allowing him to attack closeouts and finish with elite efficiency around the rim. In 2024-25, he shot 15.0 percent better than the league average within eight feet of the basket.
Compounded by the fact that Ellis shot well above the league average from both corners, above the break on both sides of the court, and from straight-on, it's safe to believe in his offensive abilities.
Keon Ellis offers two-way value the Pistons can't afford to ignore
For as intriguing as his shooting proficiency is, the primary reason the Pistons should go all-in on Ellis is his defense. An athletic 6'4" guard who seeks out the toughest possible assignments, he's the type of hard-nosed defender the Pistons could instantly incorporate into their system.
For perspective on just how competitive of a defender Ellis is, the four players he spent the most partial possessions defending in 2025-26 were James Harden, Anthony Edwards, Stephen Curry, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
With Ellis on the court, the Pistons could take a significant amount of defensive pressure off of Cunningham. They could also complement Jalen Duren with a player who will not only stay in front of scorers, but make plays in the passing lanes.
Ellis finished the 2024-25 season averaging 2.2 steals per 36 minutes and has averaged no fewer than 1.9 during each of his four years in the NBA.
With this in mind, the Pistons have a simple question to answer: Are they willing to part with a young building block of their own to land Ellis? Perhaps Marcus Sasser and draft compensation could get the job done, but it's plausible that the Kings would push for Ivey.
If the Pistons find a trade that they're comfortable making, however, they should have no regrets about adding Ellis to a team that he's perfectly suited to play with.