There is a reason fans of the Detroit Pistons spend a lot of time speculating about NBA trade rumors: It's the only thing that gives us hope.
When your team is 3-30, their season already finished before it is halfway over, there's little left but dreams of a better future.
We've seen names like OG Anunoby (recently traded to the Knicks), Pascal Siakam, Tobias Harris and even Miles Bridges bandied about, but so far it's been all smoke and no fire, and it's also fair to wonder if the Pistons even have the assets to acquire any of them.
Another name often mentioned as a possibility is Kyle Kuzma. Kuzma fits as far as age and position, and he's from Flint, so there might be some mutual interest in returning to his home state.
There is also buzz that he is available, but like the other top trade targets, the Pistons may not have what it takes to do a deal.
Could the Detroit Pistons trade for Kyle Kuzma?
Kyle Kuzma could be made available in a trade according to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, but it's the asking price that could rule the Pistons out:
"Kyle Kuzma is expected to be made available by the Washington Wizards for multiple first-round picks, league sources told ClutchPoints. Amid a career year, Kuzma is averaging 23.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. One team that has been eyeing power forward help for quite some time is the Indiana Pacers. Tyus Jones is expected to garner more interest in trade talks than Kuzma, sources said. Jones' $14 million contract is very obtainable for various contending teams around the league."
I'm not certain Kyle Kuzma is going to garner multiple first-round picks, but he is having a very good season, averaging over 23 points and 6.2 rebounds per game on the highest field goal percentage (46.6 percent) of his career. He's still not very efficient, but he is shooting over 35 percent from 3-point range on seven attempts per game, so he is a big man who can spread the floor a little, something the Pistons need.
*On a side note, Tyus Jones is another guy the Pistons should consider as a veteran point guard who can make 3's nad take care of the ball.
But if multiple first-round picks are what it is going to take to get Kuzma, the Pistons are already out, as they can't trade multiple picks until the one they owe the Knicks is conveyed.
Isaiah Stewart is a good player, but the pick they traded to get him has hampered the team for several years now. At the time Troy Weaver probably thought the team would be better and that pick would be long gone, but that hasn't happened, so they are still hamstrung by draft debt.
It's wild that a team this bad doesn't have extra draft picks to trade, but that's what happens when you don't have a star player to kickstart your rebuild and your GM gives away first-round picks too easily.
Kuzma won't be the last player the Pistons miss out on because they don't have the draft assets to trade.