Trajan Langdon gave his first press conference as president of the Detroit Pistons, and it left fans with mixed feelings.
Most praised his confidence and calm demeanor, as well as his clear vision for the team. But he also didn’t sound like a guy in a hurry to make sweeping changes to his roster, as he talked about player development and not taking shortcuts.
He also talked about the possibility of taking on contracts in exchange for assets, something the Pistons never really did under Troy Weaver even while they were tanking. Weaver did take on a bunch of salary dumps but got few assets in return other than future second-round picks.
If Langdon doesn’t think this team can be turned into a playoff contender in one summer, then this isn’t the worst strategy even if it might not yield the immediate payoffs impatient fans are hoping for after years of suffering.
If the Pistons do go this route, they will have plenty of options, as there are teams looking to shed salary that might have players who could help Detroit or garner them some assets.
10 Contracts the Detroit Pistons can take on for assets
#10: Mitchell Robinson
The Knicks are desperate to keep Isaiah Hartenstein, which means Mitchell Robinson may end up getting traded to clear cap space according to Jake Fisher of Yahoo Sports.
Robinson has two years and around $26 million left on his contract, so it’s one the Pistons could easily absorb.
When healthy, he’s a guy the Pistons could use, as he is a rim protector who blocks plenty of shots. The problem is that he isn’t healthy that often, so even though he’d be useful to the Pistons, they might need an asset to take him on.
The Knicks have two picks in this draft (#24 and #25) plus the one the Pistons owe them which may never convey at this point. Could they get one of them to take on Mitchell? If so, this is a no-brainer, as he is the type of veteran they need, as he can compete with Duren for the starting spot or back him up.
#9: Clint Capela
Capela falls into the same category as Mitchell as a veteran center who can still play. He averaged a double-double last season with 1.5 blocks per game.
He has one year and $22 million left on his deal, so he's not a sunk cost that the Hawks will be super desperate to get rid of.
Atlanta isn’t going to give the Pistons a big haul just to take on Capela but might be willing to package him with another player or possibly a future pick.
#8: DeAndre Hunter
Hunter could be that player.
He’s a 3-and-D wing (sort of) on a reasonable contract that the Hawks have seemingly been trying to get rid of for ages.
He’s a solid defender who has improved both his accuracy and volume from 3-point range, hitting over 38 percent on 5.3 attempts per game this season.
The question is what the Hawks would be willing to kick for Detroit to take on both of these guys. There would have to be a pick or two coming the Pistons’ way to absorb $40 million in contracts that the Hawks don’t want.
These two players would make Detroit better, but are questionable long-term pieces, especially for the cost.
#7: Tim Hardaway Jr.
I am on the record as saying I wouldn’t take him on unless there was a real asset attached, as this is just Alec Burks all over again, a veteran who is ok, but not good enough to move the needle, but good enough to take minutes from young players.
THJ only shoots 35 percent from long range and is on the wrong side of 30. His deal isn’t that bad with justa year and $17 million remaining but it's far more than he's worth at this point.
This is where Langdon needs to do what Troy Weaver never did, which is play hardball. How many times have the Pistons helped teams like the Knicks and Nets over the years with painfully little coming back? Those days have to be over.
If the Pistons are going to take on another team’s dud and help them out of financial crisis, then they need a reward, and a second-round pick is not enough.
THJ isn’t as washed as Joe Harris was, but the Pistons still shouldn’t take on his overpaid dotage unless they are getting something.
#6a: Kevin Huerter
The Kings have reportedly been trying to use Huerter’s contract in talks for guys like Zach LaVine among others.
Huerter is a useful player, though his 3-point shooting did take a dip this season. He’s still young enough at 25 and theoretically provides a skill the Pistons need.
He has two years and around $33 million left on his deal, so it wouldn’t be catastrophic to the Pistons’ long-term plans to take him on.
Huerter isn’t terrible or washed up, so the Kings probably aren’t going to attach a king’s ransom just to move him, though they are star hunting and do need the cap space.
This could be another situation in which the Pistons take on two contracts.
#6b: Harrison Barnes
Barnes is still a productive role player who rarely misses games, so the Pistons could use his 3-and-D services.
If the Kings can’t find a deal to move these two for a player they want, would they dump them on Detroit for nothing? It wouldn’t be the worst thing, as both are still useful players who aren’t on terrible contracts.
#5: Nikola Vucevic
If you only looked at Vucevic’s counting stats, you’d think he was still pretty good, though his 3-point shooting plummeted into the toilet this season.
On paper, a veteran center who can shoot 3-pointers would be a nice add for the Pistons, but games aren’t played on paper.
Vucevic is a terrible defender, even worse than Duren, so wouldn’t be any help there, and he is still owed over $40 million combined for the next two seasons.
The Bulls would love to shed his contract, but they are also the Bulls, a cheap, miserly team that doesn’t have any draft picks to give away just to get rid of Vooch.
#4: Zach LaVine
Taking on both Vucevic and LaVine might be an option, though the Pistons would need other assets to do it and like I said, Chicago doesn’t have them.
LaVine’s contract is poison given his injury history and the fact he’s won exactly one more playoff game than Ausar Thompson.
This would be all of the Pistons’ cap space on a sus center and a player in LaVine who might end up being a giant sunk cost.
I need assets to to this and I can’t see the Bulls giving them up. Throw in the 11th pick in this draft and get the conversation started.
#3: Andrew Wiggins
It’s hard to say what the market for Wiggins is, as he was an All-Star as a 3-and-D wing recently but fell off last season.
He’s also pushing 30 and has three years left on his deal. If the Warriors want to make a significant addition and keep Klay Thompson, then they will almost have to shed Wiggins’ salary.
Again, they are the desperate ones, so why should the Pistons help them for nothing? I could see the Pistons involved in a three-way deal in which the Warriors are getting the star they want with Detroit eating Wiggins’ contract.
If they could get a late first-round pick for their troubles, this wouldn’t be the worst idea.
#2: Jerami Grant
Grant’s contract is on the verge of being bad, but it’s not quite there given that he’s still a good player and the salary cap is about to go up.
But Portland is nearing the second tax apron and sucks, which is the worst place to be, so they are going to look to cut payroll and will be desperate to do so, as not too many rebuilding teams are also in the luxury tax.
This is another situation in which the Pistons have to play hardball. There aren’t many teams that can absorb Grant’s contract straight up, so if I’m Detroit, I need at least one of their first-round picks to do it.
They have more than one, so this is a possibility on draft day.
#1: Ben Simmons
The ultimate bad contract is finally winding down, as Simmons has just one year and $40 million left on his deal.
Langdon will be familiar with his work (or lack of work as it is) and is also plenty familiar with the Nets.
If they want to go star hunting this summer instead of blowing it up, then getting off Simmons’ contract would be necessary.
The problem is that they have few assets to give up in return, but would they include a first-round pick? It would likely have to be one from Phoenix of deep into the future.
If the Nets want off Simmons, they have to pay.