Would Pascal Siakam really be "Blake Griffin 2.0" for the Pistons?

The Detroit Pistons are no stranger to making bad trades.

They've made some doozies over the years (here are 10 of the worst), including the ill-fated move to push in their chips for Blake Griffin.

The Pistons gave up a haul for Griffin, who gave them one great season before predictably falling apart. It was a trade that hurt the Pistons for years, as they were stuck with his huge contract number on their books long after he was gone.

This is the type of move a desperate franchise makes, especially when they can't draw free agents and have a hard time acquiring stars who don't have glaring red flags.

I suggested that Zach LaVine could be such a move, as he is the same age as Griffin was then, has a history of injuries and is owed a whole lot of money.

In a recent HoopsHype Podcast, insiders Michael Scotto and Bobby Marks talked briefly about the Pistons, first asking how no one has been fired yet (great question), why they aren't playing their young guys (another great question) and then discussing possible trade targets, including LaVine and Pascal Siakam, who Scotto said would be "Blake Griffin 2.0."

Is he right?

Pascal Siakam is older and could be in decline

Siakam will be 30 years old in April, nearly two years older than Griffin was when the Pistons traded for him. He's still putting up great numbers and there is no doubt that he would help the Pistons in the short term, as Griffin did.

But what about the long term? It would take a max deal to keep Siakam in Detroit, and even though he is putting up good numbers now, what about two years from now? Three? Four? Do the Pistons want to be paying Siakam $50 million a season when he is 34 years old?

Paying max money for guys who are no longer in their prime is how you end up where the Detroit Pistons are now.

Pascal Siakam could just leave in free agency

One difference between Griffin and Siakam is that Pascal will be an unrestricted free agent after this season, so unlike Griffin, he wouldn't be guaranteed to even be around.

If the Pistons were trading next to nothing to get him, it might make sense to see if they can bring him on board, and get the inside track to re-signing him. But...

The Pistons can't trade big assets for Pascal Siakam

Detroit gave up a nice package of picks and players to get Griffin, and cannot do the same for Siakam given his contract situation. Imagine a world where the Pistons give up one of their young players, and a future first for Siakam only to have him leave. No thanks.

In the end, Siakam isn't Blake Griffin 2.0 because the Pistons wouldn't even have the guarantee that he'd stay past this season. In some ways, Siakam is even more of a risk, which is why the Pistons should stay away unless he costs them very little.