A proposed mega-trade between the Pistons and Pacers

Would the Detroit Pistons say yes?

With all of the players involved essentially on expiring contracts, the only reason the Pistons would do this would be to try out these guys with their core and to get the inside track on re-signing them.

Buddy Hield and Obi Toppin are future free agents the Pistons might pursue anyway, so they'd have part of a season to try them out and convince them to stay before having to make an offer.

Hield is a durable shooter who could help a team that needs both qualities. Toppin helps with the power forward depth and is also knocking down 40 percent of his 3-point shots, and Smith is an underrated bench big who can play both spots and spread the floor a little.

Retaining all three after this season would likely eat up most of the cap space, as all of them are due for raises, but are the Pistons going to do any better than that in free agency?

A depth chart that looks like this next season might be the best we can hope for:

Cade Cunningham/Monte Morris
Jaden Ivey/Marcus Sasser
Buddy Hield/Ausar Thompson
Obi Toppin/Jalen Smith
Jalen Duren/Isaiah Stewart

That group wouldn't be great defensively, but if you told me the Pistons could have this roster heading into next season, I think I'd probably take it given their lack of options.

The Pacers can probably do better than this by breaking up the three players and there may not be close to enough financial incentive for them, but it would give them two veterans who can help them now and some cap relief for players they are not likely to re-sign anyway.