Pistons offseason absolutely must include trade push for Jamal Murray

The Detroit Pistons have to trade for Jamal Murray.

The paths ahead of the Pistons are numerous. They have a true superstar in Cade Cunningham, capable of being the No. 1 option on a contending team. He’s the real deal. Once you have that level of player in place, a title is a real possibility.

Pistons are trying to build a contender

How to surround him? The Pistons have done a great job thus far, as they just won 60 games and secured the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. After losing in seven games to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round of the NBA Playoffs, they could choose to run things back with the same basic roster in place. They are young enough and were good enough to feel like they have a shot to break through.

They also have a number of young players and a plethora of draft picks, giving them options to improve the roster. They could work out a sign-and-trade for Jalen Duren and shift his salary slot to a different position. They could look for a stretch big to pair with Duren in the frontcourt. They could look for a sniper like Duncan Robinson who can also survive defensively.

They also must consider trading for a point guard. Cunningham is brilliant, but the Orlando Magic and the Cavaliers both swarmed him defensively and forced other Pistons to create offense. They proved incapable, and that left the Pistons vulnerable to an upset.

The Pistons have options

Jaden Ivey was once supposed to be that player, but he is long gone. Ausar Thompson has some on-ball juice, but he cannot shoot and doesn’t have the handle to be that player. Tobias Harris cannot be the option. 

Cunningham’s size and defensive impact make it possible to add a second ball-handler and playmaker who is guard-sized. Kyrie Irving is a name that has been bandied about. Tyler Herro could be available. So could Immanuel Quickly.

The best option, however, is Jamal Murray. The Denver Nuggets are expensive and lost in the first round, and they have declared that everything is on the table other than trading Nikola Jokic. 

Detroit should trade for Jamal Murray

Would they really trade Jamal Murray? Perhaps not, but for the right price, they would have to consider it. The Pistons could push a lot of their chips into the middle, taking on Murray’s lucrative contract and receiving his premier shot-making ability. 

Murray can break down defenders, is an underrated passer and is an excellent finisher inside. He made the All-NBA team himself last year and has grown beyond merely a playoff assassin into a consistent scoring engine with experience thriving beside another on-ball star in Nikola Jokic.

Trading for Murray will not come cheaply, of course. The Nuggets will expect proven talent, young players and/or draft picks. It may cost them Ausar Thompson, or Ron Holland and a bevy of draft capital, or some other combination. 

If a deal can be put together, however, the Pistons should do it. Murray is an ideal fit with Cunningham, and it would take the team’s offense to an elite level. Now is the time to strike in the Eastern Conference before another team rises into contention atop the conference.

Detroit has options. Perhaps another will unveil itself. Until that time, the best option available is to send the kitchen sink to the Rocky Mountains for Jamal Murray.

And with Murray aboard, Detroit can reap the rewards. 

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