NBA rumors: Perfect Pistons trade target may become available

Detroit Pistons trade for Lauri Markkanen

Michael Pina of The Ringer recently suggested a fake trade of Lauri Markkanen to the Warriors (puke emoji) with Golden State sending Utah Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, Gary Payton II, and two unprotected first-round picks.

So let's use that as a baseline for what it would take to get Markkanen. Is that a deal the Pistons could beat? It depends.

Detroit could start with Jaden Ivey and Isaiah Stewart, who are arguably better young prospects than any of those Warriors' players. The problem is that Detroit can only offer one first-round pick right now.

Because of the pick they owe the Knicks, Detroit can't trade their 2024 pick until it falls within the protections at the end of the season, which it certainly will.

That rules out any midseason trade unless there was a wink-wink deal in place or Utah valued Detroit's young players more than they did late first-round draft picks.

The Pistons' picks are better assets than Golden State's for obvious reasons, but they are held back by the one they owe New York.

In other words, it's not going to be easy to get Markkanen, as there are teams out there with better offers in terms of picks, so it depends on what Utah wants and how they are trying to rebuild.