The Detroit Pistons need to add scoring and shot creation, but don’t want to blow up their roster to get it, so could try to find a comfortable middle ground that potentially gets them what they need without the big cost.
That’s what happens in a recent blockbuster trade proposal from Bleacher Report, which includes four teams in a deal for Jaylen Brown. The Pistons aren’t getting Brown in this scenario, but adding a valuable veteran who could be a perfect fit:
Celtics get: Saddiq Bey, Trey Murphy III, Jabari Smith Jr, 2027 1st-round pick (HOU)
Rockets get: Jaylen Brown, Marcus Sasser
Pelicans get: Dorian Finney-Smith, Caris LeVert, pick 21, pick 27, 2027 and 2029 1st-round picks (HOU)
Pistons get: Fred VanVleet, pick 39
Phew, there is a lot to digest here, but I am only going to focus on the Pistons.
In this deal, Detroit gives up Marcus Sasser, Caris LeVert and moves down 17 spots in the 2026 draft for Fred VanVleet, which on paper seems like a pretty good deal for Detroit.
Sasser and LeVert are not part of the long-term plans, and neither played much of a role last season. The Pistons are unlikely to find anyone at pick 21 who will instantly be as good as VanVleet, who only has one more year left on his deal.
VanVleet can play on or off the ball and has always been a plus 3-point shooter. He’s also a smart and tough veteran who has won a title, so he ticks a lot of boxes, but he also comes with plenty of concerns.
Fred VanVleet wouldn’t be much risk, but might not provide the reward the Pistons need
VanVleet is 32 years old and coming off an ACL injury that cost him his entire season, both of which should be giant red flags to the Pistons.
No one has seen this guy play in over a year, so who knows what to expect from FVV, who is just six feet tall and doesn’t have the size or athleticism to overcome losing any quickness or mobility.
If he’s not able to beat players off the dribble, then his game isn’t going to be nearly as effective. FVV averaged just 14 points per game in his last healthy season while shooting just 37 percent from the floor, which does not sound like a second scoring option and that was before he was hurt.
If the Pistons didn’t see him as that, and made other moves elsewhere, then this might make sense, but if this is your ”big” move, I think I’d rather just keep Sasser at a fraction of the cost.
The real hang up here is giving up a first-round pick for a guy who is on the wrong side of 30 and coming off a serious injury. Make that pick a few second rounders and we are talking, but otherwise this is the Pistons giving up a big chunk of their tradable contracts for a big unknown who might not be very good.
It's a comfortable amount of risk, but the payoff may not be worth it.
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