Karl-Anthony Towns trade shows problems and opportunities for Pistons

The Detroit Pistons and the rest of the NBA started training camp today, but the league is still buzzing about a recent blockbuster trade. 

The Timberwolves sent Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks in exchange for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and a pick that will come from the Pistons if it falls in the top-13 of the 2025 NBA Draft. 

Even though they weren’t directly involved, it’s a trade that will have ripple effects on the Pistons and also shows some future challenges and opportunities that the new CBA will create. 

Detroit Pistons payroll: Future challenges of the ‘Apron’ era 

The new CBA has had effects on how teams build a roster, as superstars are now eligible for more, which has affected those in the middle and lower salary tiers. 

The middle class has mostly been forced to take less (or are still looking for jobs) and there is evidence of that on the Pistons payroll with guys like Simone Fontecchio and Malik Beasley being forced into shorter, cheaper deals. 

It means more chances for younger players, second-round picks and undrafted free agents, as finding cheap talent on minimum deals is now more important than ever. 

It’s going to be tough to keep a team together past their rookie deals, a problem that will present itself to the Pistons starting next offseason when Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren are eligible for extensions. 

Detroit already has one max player in Cade Cunningham and have to be careful who they give those second and third max deals to. It would be a great problem to have if Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren played so well next season that they were thought of as max guys (not likely) but even if they don’t, their next contracts will be vital to future team building in Detroit. 

Overpaying the wrong players will be even more punitive in the Apron era, when teams are penalized both financially and in how they can make trades. 

This is a problem every team is going to face as they try to land superstars on max deals and then fill out a roster around them, but it will also present opportunities to teams that stay financially flexible. 

Opportunities for the Detroit Pistons 

Minnesota, a team not accustomed to being deep in the luxury tax, had to make a choice between keeping Karl-Anthony Towns or keeping their depth and they chose depth. 

Keeping KAT would have made it nearly impossible for Minnesota to retain both Naz Reid and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, two key role players.  

There are going to be more players like KAT hitting the market as other teams have to make this choice. Guys like Michael Porter Jr. in Denver, Jarrett Allen in Cleveland, Brandon Ingram in New Orleans and possibly down the line even Jaylen Brown in Boston depending on their new owners.   

We may see more second-tier stars traded from teams trying to balance starpower and depth, which is likely one reason why Trajan Langdon has elected to save some cap space and financial flexibility. 

Pistons fans are sick of hearing about financial flexibility, as it only matters if you use it to put a better team on the floor, but Detroit does have it, along with some short-term veteran contracts and youngsters that could end up being valuable if a star player does become available.