The Detroit Pistons are stuck in an epic losing streak and have to make some big decisions about their roster.
With the trade deadline in the not-so-distant future, Detroit will have to decide who stays and who goes, whether to try and improve the roster or tear it down.
With limited resources at their disposal and a desire to improve as soon as possible, the Pistons are in a tenuous position when it comes to making trades.
A recent trade proposal from Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report shows how that desperation could hurt them.
Pistons trade proposal is far too risky with few short-term or long-term payoffs
The Pistons have made overtures toward pursuing guys like OG Anunoby and Tobias Harris, but I have serious doubts as to whether they even have the assets to do it.
With only one first-round pick at their disposal, the Pistons will have a hard time putting the best offer on the table for any of the top trade targets, if they even become available.
Bailey suggests the Pistons should instead pursue the Bulls' DeMar DeRozan in a deal that doesn't make much sense for the Pistons.
On one hand, I get it, the Pistons need talent. They need veterans who know how to play and DeRozan is still a reliable scorer at 34 years old. He would fill a big need as a consistent scoring option and veteran leader who would add stability to a team that desperately needs it. If he had two or three years left on his deal I'd say go for it.
However, DeRozan is on an expiring deal and will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. It seems far more likely that DeRozan would go join a contender at this stage of his career than re-sign with the Pistons.
Even if the Pistons could retain him, DeRozan is not the type of shooter who will necessarily complement Cade Cunningham and he'll be 35 years old.
So a trade like this would be a huge risk, especially when Detroit is so far away from being competitive. They'd potentially be giving up a first-round pick for a half-season rental of a player who will just flee (literally) in free agency. Perhaps if there were more serious protections on the pick it would be more palatable, but imagine the 2026 NBA Draft when the Pistons are still awful and the Bulls have their pick. No thanks.
The Pistons should explore all options for adding veteran talent, I agree with that, but they have to find players who have additional years on their contract or at least have some restrictions on their free agency.
Grade: C-