The Detroit Pistons have lost 20 games in a row, so there isn't much to look forward to other than the future.
There will be some new players eligible to be traded on December 15th, but no one who is going to radically alter the worst team in the NBA.
The Pistons are more likely to wait until the 2024 NBA trade deadline to start offloading players, and they have plenty of candidates. Not only do they have seven expiring contracts but also a roster in desperate need of a shake-up.
Here are the six players most likely to be traded before the 2023-24 season is over.
Pistons most likely to be traded this season
#6: Joe Harris
The Joe Harris era in Detroit should mercifully end at the trade deadline if there is a team out there that will take him. It won't be easy, as he hasn't played much and when he has, he hasn't been very good. But he's an expiring $20 million contract that could come into play if the Pistons make a bigger move. They already received the assets (two second-round picks) they are going to get for Harris, so at this point, he is an expiring contract and nothing else.
#5: Monte Morris
The big question with Morris is whether he will even be healthy before the trade deadline. He was a guy I thought the Pistons might consider re-signing at the end of this season, as he was excited to be in Detroit and they need a veteran point guard. But he is also an expiring deal, so if it is needed to make a trade, or some contender needs bench depth, we could see Morris moved if he is back in the lineup and healthy by then, which is no given.
$30 million well spent!
#4: Marvin Bagley III
Marvin Bagley III has been up and down this season and still hasn't shown he can play defense. The problem with him is that he is not an expiring deal and is still owed $12.5 million next season, a hefty sum for a one-dimensional backup center. If the Pistons can find any expiring contract for him they should jump on it, as they need to upgrade the center position with guys who can protect the rim or shoot. They need to hope there is a team desperate for center help, but I wouldn't hold my breath.
#3: Alec Burks
Alec Burks is on an expiring deal and is definitely a player who could help a contender that needed more shooting off the bench. Burks can still do that and has looked better in the last couple of games, so the Pistons will likely get calls on him soon. I wouldn't expect a big return for Burks, as he's not going to fetch a first-round pick or a high-ceiling young player. He's another guy whose contract could be used in a bigger deal.
#2: Killian Hayes
Killian Hayes has been steady enough that the Detroit Pistons might consider re-signing him at the end of the season. But he could also be trade bait for any team that needs a point guard. We've talked about San Antonio as a possible location, but they don't have many interesting players they'd be willing to trade for Hayes. Monty Williams seems to like and trust Killian, so if I had to guess, I'd say he won't be traded, but he's played well enough and is still young enough that he could be a sweetener if the Pistons make a bigger deal.
#1: Bojan Bogdanovic
Here we go again. Bojan has been the will they?/won't they? guy since the Pistons traded Jerami Grant. They probably should have moved Bogdanovic last season, when his value was higher, but he still might be able to get a decent return if Detroit can find the right team. Bojan has an interesting contract that can be bought out for $2 million after this season, so he's a nice player who doesn't come with long-term attachments, which may up his value considering the team can also opt in for another full year at $20 million if it works out. But he'd give a contender a nice boost of shooting for this season and still be a big expiring deal if necessary. Is that enough for a first-round pick? I don't even care about the pick for the Pistons, but they need more assets they can trade, so getting a first-round pick anywhere would be a win. Bogdanovic could also be viewed as an expiring contract in a bigger deal where the Pistons are trying to land an impact player. Either way, he's likely to be traded, though after last season, nothing is guaranteed.