After years of operating on the margins, the Pistons are finally ready to make a big trade to upgrade this summer. But that decision could come back to cost them if they give up too much for the wrong asset.
That could be exactly the position where Detroit ends up if they navigate recent trade rumors incorrectly. The Pistons are now being heavily linked to Tyler Herro as part of a multi-team trade sending Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Heat, but the asking price is concerning.Â
The Pistons can’t give up too much for Herro
On paper, Herro should be a good fit on the Pistons. He’s an attainable target for a shooting guard upgrade and capable of playing either on or off the ball. He’s averaged at least 20 points per game for 5 years in a row and was even named an All-Star in 2025.
But some trade rumors have the Pistons giving up a big haul to acquire Herro. Both Isaiah Stewart and Ron Holland II have been linked as potential trade pieces in this deal, as well as additional draft compensation. That’s a lot to give up for a flawed player in Herro, who still has significant defensive limitations and playoff disappointments over his career.
The Pistons are right to get more aggressive this offseason, but they can’t blindly throw out trade assets for the wrong returns. Even if they trade for Herro, the Pistons would still likely want to make another upgrade at the power forward spot to become a top-tier title contender. That makes it even more important to properly manage assets in a potential trade and avoid giving up too much.
A Herro trade still has its risks
While Herro has proven himself a capable offensive player to the tune of about 20 points and 4 assists per game for years, he still comes with plenty of warts. For one, he’s often been a defensive liability in the playoffs. He was famously targeted by the Cavaliers in a 2025 first-round 4-0 defeat.Â
Herro has also struggled to stay consistently healthy throughout his career. Last season he played just 33 games, the 4th season of his 7-year career with less than 65 games played. Even in the Heat’s legendary Finals run in 2023 as the 8th seed, Herro missed all but one game of the playoffs with injury.
The Pistons obviously can’t afford to give up a ton of assets for a player that will be too injured to contribute in the playoffs. If Detroit does end up with Herro, they’ll need to make sure it’s for a reasonable package that still mitigates the risks inherent to Herro’s playstyle and durability.
Add us as a preferred source on Google