The NBA trade deadline is staring the Detroit Pistons in the face and rumors are flying about what they are going to do.
The most polarizing rumor is has the Pistons potentially trading for Zach LaVine, who is a former All-Star who comes with big red flags when it comes to defense, contract and injuries.
But with a thin group of upcoming free agents, this might be the Pistons' best chance to land an impact player, though the cost of doing so could be painful.
It's as easy to talk yourself into the idea of LaVine as it is to dismiss it entirely, so let's look at some of the potential pros and cons of LaVine when it comes to winning, fit and money.
Pros and cons of trading for Zach LaVine for the Detroit Pistons: Winning
Pros
The Detroit Pistons are the worst team in the NBA and have been for two straight seasons. They already suffered the worst losing streak in NBA history and are going nowhere except back to the lottery.
LaVine would almost certainly make them better, even if they had to give up Jaden Ivey to get him, as he's a proven scorer who can help spread the floor around Cade Cunningham and make it easier for the Pistons to play with both Isaiah Stewart and Jalen Duren on the floor. Get LaVine and the Pistons are no longer the worst team in the league.
Cons
What evidence is there that Zach LaVine affects winning? He has enjoyed exactly one winning season in his 9+ year career, when the Bulls won 46 games in 2021-22.
Other than that, LaVine has won 16, 29, 31, 27, 22, 22, 31 and 40 games in his career. The Bulls are currently 21-25 and have played better without him. You can't put the fate of any team on one player, but LaVine's teams have not won. He hasn't won with better teammates in Chicago, so what makes you think he'll win in Detroit?
It would be just as likely that LaVine would phone it in (as he's been accused of in Chicago) looking for another trade. There is a reason the Bulls are so desperate to trade LaVine, as they haven't won squat with him.
Pros and cons of trading for Zach LaVine for the Detroit Pistons: Fit
Pros
LaVine is a career 38.2 percent 3-point shooter on high volume and would give Cade Cunningham the type of floor-spacing second option at the two that he's never had. LaVine has rarely played with good point guards in his career, and when he did, he thrived playing off the ball.
LaVine averaged 24.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists with good shooting splits in his 33 games with Lonzo Ball, who like Cade, is the type of point guard who can get LaVine the ball in his sweet spots. You have to double LaVine when he's cooking, same as Cade, which means the Pistons would be able to create mismatches all over the place, especially if they can get another shooter or two on the floor. This solves some of the spacing issues that come with Cade playing with Jaden Ivey.
If the Pistons had to give up Ivey in the trade (please no), Marcus Sasser would move up a spot and give the Pistons bench scoring. If Ivey doesn't go in the deal, he gets pushed to the bench, where he can be unleashed as the primary scoring option, which also improves the overall depth.
Between the three, the Pistons would always have at least one ballhandler on the floor and would have some protection against injuries if one or more of them went down at the same time.
LaVine's injury concerns are somewhat overblown, as he has played 67 and 77 games in the last two seasons before this one and has only had two seasons in which he failed to play 60 games, not counting the shortened COVID season in which he played 58.
Cons
The obvious one is that Zach LaVine is always hurt. He's only played more than 60 games four times in his career, and the Pistons are a team that has been decimated by injuries. Are they really in a position to invest in a guy who is often hurt? He's the same age as Blake Griffin was when the Pistons traded for him, and we know how that worked out. This is a guy who relies on his athleticism (just like Blake) and is already starting to show signs of decline. His injury issues aren't likely to get better.
He's also a terrible defender, so he would fit right in with the Pistons, who are loaded with guys who can't defend. Even if the Pistons didn't have to give up Bogdanovic to get him, can he, LaVine and Cade co-exist? They'd have to score a lot of points because they'd be giving up plenty on the perimeter.
Even though LaVine has been a very good, high-volume 3-point shooter for his career, he's only shooting 34.9 percent in this season, so is that the LaVine you are getting?
And did I mention he's currently injured?
Pros and cons of trading for Zach LaVine for the Detroit Pistons: Money
Pros
Zach LaVine is owed $43, 45 and 48 million in the next three seasons after this one, which is a lot of money, but is it? This will be the going price for a quality NBA starter soon, and though LaVine is no longer an All-Star, he's very close when healthy. This is in the range of what Tobias Harris and Pascal Siakam will get in free agency and LaVine is younger than either of them.
It's only three more seasons, so even if LaVine isn't lights out, they won't be overpaying for his services and will get his last prime years.
There's also the issue of 2024 free agency, which is grim. Look at this list of players and tell me who the Pistons are going to sign that is better than LaVine. I'll wait.
The Pistons could trade for LaVine and still have the cap space to sign the role players they need in the offseason. It's not a great contract but it's not catastrophic and if the Pistons don't sign LaVine, what are they going to do with all of that cap space? Would you rather have Lavine or vastly overpay for a free agent who isn't as good and will be on an even longer contract?
The final year of his deal is a player option that he will almost certainly exercise, but the Pistons would still be able to move him a massive expiring contract if it came to that.
Cons
When you factor in Cade Cunningham's inevitable rookie extension, the Pistons would have a ton of money tied up in a backcourt that has health issues and can't play defense.
If LaVine were to get hurt again, $45 million would be a massive sunk cost that the Pistons have no way of getting out of, as there isn't much of a trade market for LaVine now, and there will be none if he suffers another serious injury.
This would be a risky move for the Detroit Pistons, but one they will have to consider if the price is right. If they can get LaVine with just expiring deals, he might be too good to pass up, but if it costs them one of the "Core Four," then his flaws become more troubling.