Grade the trade: Pistons land star in proposed 3-team blockbuster

The Detroit Pistons would jump on this trade 

This is the type of trade you agree to and then run out of the room before the other teams come to their senses. Michael Porter Jr.  is at the top of my possible trade targets for the Pistons this season and this would be a price far too good to pass up. 

This is a no-brainer for Detroit, who would be swapping out Stewart for a better player, speeding up their rebuild and giving Cade Cunningham some real weapons to work with. 

With Johnson, the Pistons could run a huge starting five with plenty of scoring and depth coming off the bench. I’ve always liked Ausar Thompson as a two-guard (it doesn’t really matter) and this would give JJ Bickerstaff a chance to go big: 

-Cade Cunningham/Jaden Ivey 

-Ausar Thompson/Malik Beasley 

-Micheal Porter Jr./Simone Fontecchio/Ron Holland 

-Tobias Harris/ 

-Jalen Duren/Paul Reed 

Fontecchio, Thompson, Reed and even Holland can all be plugged in at the four in certain lineups, so the Pistons’ lack of depth there shouldn’t matter too much. This would make Detroit thin at center, a need they would have to address elsewhere.

This team has a starting five with a creator/scorer in Cade, a lob threat in Duren, an elite wing defender and two guys who can shoot. 

You can splash in Fontecchio, Ivey and Beasley for even more scoring and Holland and Reed for defense. 

I don’t think it’s crazy to say this team would have a real shot at the playoffs in the Eastern Conference, with the Pistons finally having a two-way wing in MPJ who has championship experience and pedigree. 

He’s young enough to fit the timeline long term, and with the addition of another big name in two years when Harris expires, this is the makings of a good team that will present mismatches all over the floor. 

If this trade were ever on the table, the Pistons would jump at it, as giving up Stewart and two second-round picks for a legit wing is as easy as decisions come. 

Grade: A