The Detroit PIstons have suddenly caught fire to start 2025. Winners of 10 of their last 12, the Pistons are showing what complementary basketball looks like. Each piece of this roster that JB Bickerstaff and Trajan Langdon have put together is playing their role perfectly, and as a result, Detroit is on a roll we haven’t seen in half a decade.
In just a few short weeks, Detroit will need to make a decision on if they are going to double down on this recent success and be buyers at the deadline, stay the current course and trust the path we were originally on, or fall somewhat in the middle. We’ve seen plenty of articles from other publications with outlandish trade ideas, but what are some middle of the road options? Here are some players that both allow Detroit to get better as a whole while also not giving up pieces of their future.
KJ Martin, Philadelphia 76ers
KJ became trade eligible this week, and the Sixers desperately need to make a move to stay relevant. Detroit has nothing to offer in terms of pieces to help Philly, but could step in as a third party salary matcher and ask for the 24-year-old for our troubles. KJ is averaging six points and three rebounds, shooting 38 percent from deep on just 20 minutes per night.
Jevon Carter, Chicago Bulls
The Bulls are currently 18-21, sitting at 10th in the Eastern Conference, and could be getting worse real soon, more on that in a minute. Jevon Carter could bolster Detroit’s backcourt while also adding more to their recent defensive identity. Not an offensive weapon, Jevon would need to be paired with an offensive-minded second unit but Detroit could probably have him for free if they were willing to take on his contract, which does have a $6.8 million player option for next season.
Jake LaRavia, Memphis Grizzles
Memphis is quietly stashing a hidden gem in Jake LaRavia within its depth charts. LaRavia, a 23-year- old, 6-foot-8 power forward is currently behind Jaren Jackson Jr., Jaylen Wells, and Santi Aldama on the Grizzles' depth chart, depending on where you line him up. Even while being buried, the young forward out of Wake Forest has shown immense talent. This season, LaRavia is averaging 8.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.3 stocks and is shooting almost 45 percent from deep in just 22 minutes per night.
Adding LaRavia to Detroit’s roster would give them another scoring power forward to go along with Tobias Harris. Additionally, LaRavia has a defensive rating of 110.5, which would put him as the fourth best defender in Detroit’s rotation, behind Paul Reed, Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren.
The key to Detroit acquiring him is that LaRavia’s future in Memphis is almost certainly coming to an end. The Grizzles already declined his fourth year option, and if they choose to re-sign him to a different contract this offseason, they are going to have a hard time doing so with the new salary cap/apron rules. Based on the talent Memphis has in front of him, they might want to send him off for a couple draft picks rather than lose him for nothing, and Detroit should be more than happy to facilitate that.
Bruce Brown, Toronto Raptors
Detroit seems to be in its bringing players back era with Tobias Harris, and they might want to continue that trend with Bruce Brown. Since being traded from Detroit, the team who drafted him, Brown has had an up and down career. After spending two seasons in Brooklyn, he signed with Denver, and would be a crucial part of their championship team. He used this platform to secure a new contract with the Indiana Pacers, was then included in a trade that sent him to Toronto, and has now been with the Raptors for two seasons.
Unfortunately, Brown has not been able to replicate his numbers from his time with Denver. During their championship season, Brown averaged 11.5 points, 4.1rebounds, 3.4 assists, and almost 2 stocks per game. This year, only playing in seven games thus far due to injury, he’s averaging 5.9, 2.6, 1.1 and 1.2 stocks on the defensive end.
Even going back to his time in Detroit, however, Bruce has never been one to light it up in one specific category. He’s more of a do-it-all guy who traditionally offers great defense, leadership, and the occasional offensive punch, likely off the bench. Toronto is in the basement of the NBA at the moment, and should be looking to move any chips they have not named Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, or Gradey Dick.
Brown is making $23 million this year, and is slated to be a free agent this upcoming offseason so Detroit wouldn’t be able to offer much salary relief for Toronto, but Trajan Langdon has begun stockpiling second round draft picks that could be of interest to Toronto. They may have to beat out the Lakers, however, who are rumored to be all-in on trading for the former Pistons player.
Patrick Williams, Chicago Bulls
I know what you’re thinking please, no more reclamation projects. Troy Weaver has forever ruined the idea of reclamation projections thanks to guys like James Wiseman. And rightfully so. But hear me out. Wiseman was a bust from the get-go. Patrick Williams has shown legit flashes in his abilities, so much so that he secured a five-year, $90 million contract with the Chicago Bulls, all of which is guaranteed after his rookie contract expired.
The 6-foot-7 wing, now in his fifth year, hasn’t reached his potential in Chicago, yet he has absolutely shown the talent. Career-wise, Williams is averaging 9.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 40.1% 3PT, and tenacious defense. His numbers, outside his assists, are slightly down this year, and compounding that to his injury-prone label, Chicago may be done with the Patrick Williams experiment. Still, a 6-foot-7, 3-and-D wing at his age is always coveted in the NBA.
It’s actually his contract that allows Patrick to fit into this article for me. The Bulls are floundering, and are expected to get worse very soon. They are continuously rumored to be shopping both Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic as the deadline approaches, and getting out from under the Patrick Williams contract in any capacity could help set up their upcoming mini-rebuild. Detroit could be willing to eat some of his salary in taking a chance on the young wing.
For what it’s worth, looking back to last year when we might have been able to get LaVine AND Williams for salary and a few second rounders would have been nice. But hindsight is 20/20.
If Chicago actually does begin a small rebuild, Lonzo Ball might be someone to keep an eye on as well.