We are in the thick of trade rumor season with the February NBA trade deadline rapidly approaching and the Detroit Pistons are a mystery.
They came into the season with visions of player development and asset gathering but have outplayed those notions and now look like a team that could be a buyer at the deadline.
That doesn’t mean they will go all in on a star, and could find a way to get a “best of both worlds” situation where they take on a useful player and get a draft asset or two for eating a contract.
Our friends at Sir Charles in Charge came up with a list of eight players who are near locks to be traded before the deadline. I am going to give a reaction to each, either “nope,” “meh,” or “go get him” and there are players in each category.
Kevin Huerter: Nope
What do you can call a shooter who can’t shoot? Huerter is a one-dimensional player who has declined greatly in that one area, as he is shooting just 31 percent from long range this season for the Kings.
Considering he has another year after this one at $17 million, I’d almost need an asset to take him off their hands if I am the Pistons.
Jordan Clarkson: Nope
On paper, Clarkson could be a fit, but I don’t want anything to do with Danny Ainge, who always stands his ground on price. My guess is that he wants a first-round pick for Clarkson or he’d already be traded as a veteran who can get buckets off the bench.
The Pistons could use more of a playmaker anyway and for the second year in a row, Clarkson is putting up inefficient shooting numbers and hitting just 41 percent of his shots.
Bruce Brown: Go get him
Brown represents the type of player I would prefer the Pistons to take a flyer on, as his contract does not extend past this season.
He’s a useful Swiss Army Knife type who could fit into a lot of lineups for the Pistons, would help their defense and give them a veteran with championship experience.
The problem is the cost, as the Pistons would have to include either Tim Hardaway Jr. or Simone Fontecchio to match salaries, and at that point, it might not be worth it.
Jusuf Nurkic: Meh
Nurkic stinks and is currently out of the Suns’ rotation. He’s also owed nearly $20 million next season, so if I am the Pistons, I’d have to be rewarded handsomely to take him on to the tune of a first-round pick and maybe even a first-round swap tacked onto it.
Nurkic would have been a perfect “salary dump for picks” trade, but the Pistons are no longer going in that direction, so I can’t see it happening, especially since the Suns need the one draft asset they have to make a bigger deal.
Jonas Valanciunas: Meh
I do like Valanciunas, who can still get buckets down low on just about anyone and can occasionally step out and hit a 3-pointer. He’s also on a team-friendly deal for two seasons after this one, one of the stranger contracts handed out last offseason considering the Wizards will probably still stink.
After hearing a lot of complaining about the center rotation this season (some of it from me), they’ve quietly been good of late. The Pistons’ defense has been tight, currently up to 11th in defensive rating and the centers have been protecting the rim.
Is Jalen Duren an elite defender? Far from it, but he’s been better and the Pistons are winning with him and Stewart, so I see no reason to shake that up for a guy who isn’t a good defender at all.
Nikola Vucevic: Nope
All the same things apply to Vooch (though he’s an elite offensive center), only he’s even more expensive next season and there will be other teams bidding on him, so the price could be much higher.
No thanks on any center who can’t defend.
Cam Johnson-Go get him
Johnson would be the most expensive to acquire in terms of assets, as he’s having a career year, scoring nearly 20 per game on outstanding 49/44/89 shooting splits.
The Pistons could use some more size on the wing and Johnson has a nice contract that pays him just $20 and 22 million over the next two seasons. He’s a fit both in terms of on the court production, age and salary.
But what do the Nets want? Probably a pick or two and possibly a young player on top of it, in which case I am not sure Johnson is worth it. He’d be great for a run at the playoffs and they could afford him, but if the trade cost is too high, I’m happy to walk away.
Brandon Ingram: Meh
I’ve talked about this one enough. I don’t want to pay a premium for a guy who is always hurt, which is the primary reason the Pelicans are in last place even though they are loaded with talent.
If he’s almost free, maybe, but I’m not giving up assets AND overpaying him next summer. The Pistons can do better adding quality depth instead.