Grade the trade: Pistons send 2 young players to Knicks in wild proposed deal
When Troy Weaver took over as GM of the Detroit Pistons, his first act was to get rid of everyone, earning him the nickname Troy Reaper.
He had no attachments to the players on the team he inherited, so it made sense to start fresh with a clean slate.
The Pistons were in better or worse condition when Trajan Langdon took over depending on who you ask and many wondered if he too would jettison guys that he didn’t draft, sign or trade for himself.
Related Story. Top remaining trade targets and the Pistons chances of landing them. Top remaining trade targets and the Pistons chances of landing them. dark
The Pistons answered part of that question when they gave Cade Cunningham a max extension, but what about the other young players, are they considered untouchable in a trade?
The Detroit Pistons can’t keep them all
It’s going to be difficult for the Detroit Pistons to keep all of the young players they currently have on the roster.
Not only are there issues with fit, but both Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren will also be eligible for extensions next offseason and that would be a lot of money tied up in unproven players.
They could make that decision easier by having breakout seasons, but either way, the Pistons could find themselves in a financial conundrum with most of their cap space tied up in three players who haven’t won anything (yet) and aren't good fits together.
Then Ausar Thompson’s extension comes the year after that. Then Ron Holland. You get the point.
Trajan Langdon has also talked about taking on contracts for assets, and he manages to do both in the following proposed trade with the New York Knicks.