6 Teams the Pistons are "well positioned" to take advantage of this summer

We all know the Detroit Pistons have a ton of cap space this summer, but we’ve also all been here before. 

Having cap space means less in the modern NBA, as it is easier for teams to retain stars, meaning most of them never reach free agency. 

It’s far easier to land an impact player via trade with penalties getting more severe for teams in the luxury tax, especially those who have crossed the 2nd apron. 

Cap expert Keith Smith of Spotrac named eight teams who will be over the 2nd apron and may look to cut salary as well as several teams over the 1st apron who could look to do the same, saying that the Pistons were “well positioned” to take advantage of one of them using their cap space. 

Most of the 2nd apron teams don’t care, as teams like the Suns, Lakers and Clippers are trying to win now and aren’t worried about money. But there are others who are. 

Let’s start with the 1st apron teams and work our way up, with some ideas of who they may have to trade. 

6 Teams the Pistons are "well positioned" to take advantage of this summer 

#6: Portland Trail Blazers 

Possible players: Jerami Grant, Malcolm Brogdon, Anfernee Simons 

The Trail Blazers are in the rare position of being both terrible and expensive after their roster didn’t gel this season. 

It’s hard to justify paying the luxury tax for a team that won 21 games, so at least the Detroit Pistons are cheap and terrible. 

Brogdon’s injury concerns would be lessened by the fact that he only has one year left on his deal and the Pistons might be able to get him for little. Simons and Grant would be more expensive in terms of assets as well as money and would either of them really move the needle for the Pistons? 

On the right deal, a reunion with Grant could be possible, and he does play a position of need. His contract runs through 2027-28, so Detroit would be paying Grant (who is best suited to be the 3rd or 4th best player on a good team) $36 million when he is 34 years old. 

The Trail Blazers should move some of their veterans this offseason, and depending on the asking price, the Pistons could be interested, but they could have better options. 

#5: Atlanta Hawks 

Possible players: Dejounte Murray, Clint Capela, De’Andre Hunter 

There have been some proposed deals sending Dejounte Murray to the Pistons, which makes some sense, as he would give them more floor spacing and defense on the perimeter. 

His fit with Cade Cunningham isn’t seamless, but he’d be a clear upgrade who is on a reasonable extension that doesn’t kick in until next year, so Detroit would get most of his prime years. 

Capela is another interesting name, as the Hawks may have to give him away for practically nothing just to get off his money. He only has one year left on his deal and could make sense as a stopgap rim protector while Duren gets his act together on the defensive end. 

He only has one year at $22 million left on his deal, so is a name to watch for the Pistons, who could also look at a guy like De’Andre Hunter. 

I wouldn’t be completely shocked if the Pistons were to trade for more than one of these players from Atlanta. 

#4: Miami Heat 

Possible players: Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson 

Herro is a name we are likely to hear in trade rumors this summer as Miami tries to improve without crossing into the second apron. As it stands, they would only be a luxury tax team over the first apron, but if they go star hunting this summer, someone is going to have to go. 

The question is whether the Pistons could get involved, as Herro would be the Heat’s best trade asset, and they may look to move him in a package for a star player. The Pistons could sneak in there as a third team to take on his salary, but in a straight up deal, it’s hard to see the 14-win Pistons having anything the win-how Heat would want. 

Robinson may be a more realistic target and one the Heat could have to dump for little but cap relief. He’s an elite shooter who added to his offensive bag this season, so suddenly the two years left on his deal don’t look so bad. If the Heat have to give away Robinson for cap relief, the Pistons should be interested. 

#3: Golden State Warriors 

Possible player: Andrew Wiggins 

The Warriors may not be as desperate as some of these other teams, as they have ways to cut money, namely by waiving Chris Paul and re-negotiating with Klay Thompson. 

But they’d love to dump the three years left on Wiggins’ deal even though he is only a season removed from being a very useful player. 

Theoretically, Wiggins is the type of player the Pistons will covet as a 3-and-D wing who has shown he can do both at an All-Star level. But which Wiggins are you getting? Did he just have a down season? 

He’s still not even 30, so it’s not like he’s ancient, but I’m not sure I trust Wiggins not to phone it in on the Pistons. 

Who knows, maybe a bigger role would inspire him, but if Wiggins is the Pistons’ second-best player next season, I’d say they’re in big trouble.  

I could see him go through the motions and collect checks, and I don’t know if the Pistons have anything other than money that the Warriors would want anyway. If they can get him for nothing, maybe, but I’d be loath to give up assets for a guy like Wiggins. 

#2: Milwaukee Bucks 

Possible player: Khris Middleton  

We are now into the second-apron teams who may have to shed some money if they want to make any kind of meaningful change this summer. 

The Bucks are expensive, old and came up short this season after injuries killed them down the stretch. With no money or assets, how are the Bucks going to get better? Get younger? 

Trading Middleton would be an option, though he showed in the playoffs that he can still do it at a high level for the Bucks and it would be tough to get equal value back for a guy who is nearly 33 and has a hard time staying healthy. 

He has two years left on his deal at $31 and 34 million, so he wouldn’t represent a long-term investment for Detroit, but what would the Bucks want in return? They may be happy with a young player and/or pick, mostly looking for cap relief, but who would they spend that cap money on anyway? Is there a player out there they can get who is better than Middleton? I’m dubious. 

He’s technically a fit with the Pistons and would be an impact addition even if he only played 55 games, but the question is what they’d have to give up to get him. 

#1: Denver Nuggets 

Possible players: Michael Porter Jr., Kentavious Caldwell-Pope 

Smith mentioned that the loser of the Nuggets/Timberwolves series was going to have some tough decisions to make and that ended up being the defending champs, who still might have the best starting five in the NBA but have zero depth and are over the second apron. 

They’ve indicated they want to work out a new deal with KCP, who could be a free-agent option for the Pistons if they can’t. 

But the real prize would be Michael Porter Jr., who may be the ideal player for the Detroit Pistons given his age, skillset and position. A 6-foot-10 forward who is an elite 3-point shooter and only 25 years old? Yes, please. 

The Nuggets may have to sacrifice starting talent for more depth, but the question is whether the Pistons will have any that interests them. 

MPJ wouldn’t be cheap in a trade and there are teams like Orlando, OKC, Utah and others who would have more to offer than Detroit. 

Even though he’s an ideal trade target, I’m not sure the Pistons have the type of assets the Nuggets would require, as they would probably want draft picks to go along with a prospect and a win-now rotation player. 

Would Jaden Ivey, Isaiah Stewart and the 5th pick start a conversation? I’m not sure, but if MPJ hits the market, it’s a conversation they need to have.