4 Realistic offseason targets for the Detroit Pistons
Team building in the NBA is an imperfect science. Whether it's drafting a player, taking a flyer on a player in a trade, or a major free agent signing, there are many factors that determine whether a team is successful as a unit. Unfortunately, the Detroit Pistons found this out the hard way.
Despite having a promising young core in Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Jalen Duren, and Ausar Thompson, Detroit needs three things: perimeter scoring, defense, and wings. The Pistons failed at these three levels, and moves are going to be made this offseason to address this. Players who stretch the floor like Simone Fontecchio were major additions to this team, but more needs to be done.
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Though players like Jaden McDaniels or Devin Booker are popular choices for fans, the reality is nobody is going to trade a top player for anyone on a 14-68 team. The goal is to find realistic trades that the Pistons can make. Here are four realistic trade targets for the Pistons.
Realistic trade targets for the Detroit Pistons
De'Andre Hunter- Atlanta Hawks
A lot of players have the skill necessary to play in the NBA, but were pushed aside of a different prospect on the team. De'Andre Hunter from the Atlanta Hawks is an example of this. He checks all three boxes of Detroit Pistons needs. He's a 6-foot-8 wing who last season converted 38.5 percent of his 3-pointers, and can defend on the perimeter.
Players like Hunter typically don't hit the market, but the Hawks are shifting their focus on the younger Jalen Johnson, who plays the same position, and with Atlanta in trade rumors following their #1 pick in the Draft Lottery, he found himself out of favor.
Detroit and Hunter should have a mutual interest in each other. Cade Cunningham would benefit from the floor spacing Hunter provides, and since he fills a positional need, he would get a lot of reps as a starter or coming off the bench. Detroit wouldn't necessarily need to give up a lot to get him, as Atlanta would like to shed his salary. Hunter might not be a player fans want, but he's definitely the player Detroit needs.