After being the worst team in the league two years in a row, it’s safe to say the Detroit Pistons need to make some changes.
We’ll have to wait and see who the ultimate decision maker is, as the Pistons are already looking for a new president to oversee basketball operations. This position needs to be filled quickly so that person can get to work revamping the roster.
The biggest decision might be whether to trade one or more of the young players for a proven talent, which is what happens in a three-step scenario that we could see unfold this summer.
Step 1: The Detroit Pistons trade Jalen Duren to the Pelicans for Brandon Ingram
The Pelicans are still alive in the play-in tournament, but will need to beat the Kings to claim the 8th seed, a challenge that will get tougher if Zion Williamson’s reported leg injury keeps him out of the game.
Either way, the Pels may have to trade Brandon Ingram this summer, as they will be paying more than $105 million for three players next season with raises for their young guys looming on the horizon. With just one year remaining on his deal, Ingram seems the most likely to go, especially if their peak with him and Zion is “play-in loser.”
Because he only has one year on his deal, Ingram might not cost as much in a trade. Would a young center like Jalen Duren be enough? The Pels will need a center after this season, as Jonas Valanciunas is on an expiring deal and Duren is the right age and more importantly, cost for New Orleans. He fits with their young core and would allow them to extend Trey Murphy III and move him into a more prominent role.
The Pistons need a tall bucker getter and Ingram is certainly that. He has flaws, namely his inability to stay healthy for a full season, and Detroit would immediately be under pressure to extend him to a big deal. But Ingram is the type of player the Pistons are missing (especially if he goes back to shooting more 3-pointers) and trading Duren would allow Detroit to upgrade their defense at center, which brings me to step two.
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