The NBA trade deadline is the perfect time to assess where a team is, both for the present and the future. The Detroit Pistons have been mentioned in numerous trade rumors, but so far, it's unclear whether they will be buyers or sellers at the deadline.
The Pistons don't have the trade assets that some rebuilding teams have, as they've no extra first-round picks (they are actually down one) and don't want to break up their young core without at least seeing what they look like with a competent team around them.
The one thing they do have is expiring contracts and financial flexibility, which Troy Weaver has valued more than anything even though cap space is no longer as important as it once was.
That does put the Detroit Pistons in a position to potentially help another team out of their financial situation while bringing back a valuable player in the process.
2 Teams the Detroit Pistons should be monitoring
There are two teams that stand out as having future financial issues.
The first is the New Orleans Pelicans. As Mike Scotto of HoopsHype recently reported, the Pels will have some tough decisions to make when it comes to their roster, which is rapidly getting more expensive.
"Following the move, there was a question circulating quietly among NBA executives looking toward the summer. Which Pelican could be on the move this summer to help New Orleans avoid the tax again?...Rising young forward Trey Murphy III is eligible for a rookie scale extension during the summer and a significant pay raise down the line. How much will he command and do the Pelicans want to pay that figure?"
The other team is the Memphis Grizzlies, who will have over $81 million tied up in Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Marcus Smart next season. This will be the first season of the new Desmond Bane extension, so add another $34 million, making for $115 million tied up in four players.
Memphis also has some bad contracts on the books with Brandon Clarke and Luke Kennard. Clarke hasn't played at all this season and Kennard has also missed time with injuries.
The Grizzlies would be well over the cap before they even got to the team options they hold for next season and are not a team accustomed to paying heavy luxury tax as a small-market franchise.
Could the Detroit Pistons take advantage? Here is a blockbuster trade with each team.
Detroit Pistons trade with the New Orleans Pelicans
Scotto mentioned Trey Murphy III as a potential cap casualty, as well as Herb Jones and CJ McCollum. Of those three, Murphy would be the player the Pistons would most covet, as he's a long forward who is a lights-out shooter and would be the perfect complement to their young core.
But trading for Murphy won't be easy, as the Pelicans have already picked up his option for next season and it would be impossible for the Pistons to send out equal value in a matching salary of just $5.1 million.
Murphy can sign a big extension in the summer, but the Pistons would then have to wait until December or January of next season before the Pelicans would be able to trade Murphy.
The Pelicans have had issues with the trio of Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum, who haven't figured out how to complement each other. The trio has a negative net rating with pedestrian numbers on both ends.
McCollum also has two years remaining on his deal after this one, so moving him without taking back long-term money could be a priority for the Pelicans if they want to keep Murphy and stay out of the tax.
This trade could work for both teams. The Pelicans get two shooters who can help them this season but who are on expiring contracts (Bojan can be bought out). It would save the Pelicans money this season and open up the space they need for the Murphy extension in the summer.
The Pistons get a 32-year-old veteran who is still getting nearly 20 points per game and who is shooting 44 percent on high volume from long range.
There are some questions of fit with McCollum, but he could start with Cade Cunningham or even come off the bench if the Pistons wanted to stick with their young backcourt.
Either way, he's potentially a value addition even though he's not a wing and could help the Pistons over the next two seasons after this one without wrecking their cap sheet.
McCollum helped the young Pelicans make a leap as a team and could do the same in Detroit.
But Memphis has an even better possibility.
Detroit Pistons trade with the Memphis Grizzlies
This one is more of a pipe dream, as it involves the Pistons bringing back a young All-Star just entering his prime.
The Grizzlies will almost certainly have to dump some salary soon and will be looking for ways to attach their bad contracts to trade assets to make it happen or moving one of their core players for cheaper guys and draft assets.
This season has been a disaster for Memphis because of injuries, which might lead to a shake-up to save them future money while still getting back players who fit their system.
Could the Pistons use their cap space and young players to land a star?
Like I said, a pipe dream, but what a dream it is.
Few young power forwards would complement Jalen Duren better than JJJ, who is one of the best shot blockers in the league and can spread the floor on offense.
This trade would have to wait until draft day, as the Pistons can't move their 2024 pick until then. Would two young players, a top-five pick and a future unprotected pick be enough for Jaren Jackson Jr.?
Possibly, as Memphis gets two rotation players, one who was a recent top-5 pick, they get another top-5 pick this year, a solid rotation big in Stewart and salary cap relief, especially if the Pistons were to take on Kennard, Smart or Clarke as well.
This one is a long shot indeed but does illustrate one of the ways the Pistons could use their cap space in a trade.