The Detroit Pistons' big trade deadline acquisition wasn't Giannis Antetokounmpo or Lauri Markkanen, neither of whom were moved, but it was Kevin Huerter. To be clear, it's not a bad thing that they didn't make a major swing, but fans did wish the front office had at least added another shooter.
Huerter is already out of the rotation, so there's that. He's the kind of player who could get hot in the playoffs, and while that would most certainly help a team that struggles to shoot the three ball, the Pistons know they can't bank on that.
While the postseason will be the true test for a squad that hasn't won a playoff series since 2008, we've already seen how the front office may regret not adding shooting at the deadline. Look to Detroit's 114-103 loss to San Antonio on Wednesday. No, it didn't signal the end of the world, and yes, Victor Wembanyama is otherworldly, but it did highlight their lack of shooting.
The Pistons could really regret it once the postseason rolls around
You've already heard a lot about how, although the Pistons have spent most of the season at the top of the East, they're not primed to make a deep playoff run because of their lack of experience. It's why quite a few people think the Celtics will make it out of the East.
While only having one first-round exit under its belt could hinder Detroit, not having a shooter and creator outside of Cade Cunningham could be the real issue. He's an MVP-caliber player, so there's no doubt he's the real deal (or at least there shouldn't be), but the pressure he feels now from opposing defenses will ramp up in the postseason. Who does the Pistons have to combat that?
This team, as constructed, is a threat (as they currently have a top-10 offensive rating in the NBA), but imagine what it'd look like if Detroit didn't average just 11.1 threes per game, the third-worst mark in the league.
The Pistons can't go back and re-address the deadline, but their next-best option would be securing Khris Middleton on the buyout market if he decides to leave Dallas. His three-point shooting efficiency has dipped over the past couple of years, but he's still a threat from deep, and he'd give Detroit another playmaker. Oh, and he's a veteran who knows what it takes to win it all.
Middleton wouldn't fix the Pistons' woes, but he should help them, at least. That's all they can ask for right now.