With the Detroit Pistons on the verge of elimination, some are already dreaming of the stars that may be incoming if the worst-case scenario becomes a reality.
I'd start by saying that this series isn't over. I would agree that the Pistons have shown few signs that they are going to turn this around, but I'd also point to the fact that they've done it before against this very same team, so let's not get into dog days of the offseason just yet.
Those who have already written the Pistons off are looking to the summer, when Detroit is expected to be "star hunting" according to ESPN pot stirrer Shams Charania.
Charania didn't get into the specifics of who this star might be, but as Pistons fans cope with the possibility of the season ending prematurely, dreams of what come next are all we have.
But it's a song we've heard before (many times) and there are some very real challenges to making this dream a reality.
Who is this star they'll be hunting?
The first name that came up of course was Giannis, but it's hard to imagine that happening only because the Pistons don't have the ammo to get him when there will certainly be a bevy of other teams involved.
And it wouldn't be an offseason without a Devin Booker trade rumor, but as I wrote yesterday, there are a lot of reasons this one would be tough, not the least of which is that he is a non All-Star who will soon be making $70 million a season and would cost the Pistons half their roster to obtain.
We've heard names like Kyrie Irving, which makes some sense as he is exactly what the Pistons need on paper, but he's coming off a serious injury and the Mavs may have no motivation to trade him.
Charania did mention that the Pistons checked in on Lauri Markkanen and Trey Murphy III at the trade deadline, but obviously nothing came of it. My guess is that the price was too steep for the Pistons to eat, which isn't going to change in the offseason when there will be even more teams with the space and assets to take them on.
TMIII continues to be the best option for several reasons. He's young enough to grow with the core, he's under contract for several more years after this one, and he's on a reasonable deal that the Pistons could match without sending out 3-4 players, using draft assets instead.
I'm sure we'll be hearing his name all summer, especially if the Pistons lose this series. I don't mean to rain on the parade, but I don't see TMIII as the final piece to a championship puzzle, as he's more of spot up shooter than a creator, but he's certainly a guy they could use in this particular series.
I'll believe in the Pistons making a star trade when it happens, but until then, I'll be cheering for them to win with the team they have and worry about the dreams later.
Add us as a preferred source on Google