After clawing their way back to tie the game, the Detroit Pistons lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers last night on a buzzer-beater from just inside half court. Ugh.
The Pistons traded blows with the best team in the Eastern Conference (who was missing Donovan Mitchell), and to their credit, kept battling even though it looked to be over several times.
You can’t really do anything but shake your head at this one, as the Pistons played a solid game defensively, causing 23 Cavaliers’ turnovers, but in the end, it wasn’t enough to make up for the poor shooting, as Detroit hit just 39 percent of their shots as a team.
It was a tough night for Cade Cunningham, who finished with 38 points but couldn’t buy a bucket through the first three quarters. Malik Beasley also struggled, missing all six of his 3-point attempts, so this is a game the Pistons could have easily won if a couple of things bounce differently.
It’s easy to overreact to any loss, especially on the eve of the trade deadline, and I can see this particular loss to Cleveland supporting either side of the Pistons’ trade deadline debate, which is should they go for it or not?
The Detroit Pistons should add talent at the deadline
So far, the Pistons have taken three salary dumps for second-round picks. None of the guys they picked up are likely to make the rotation, so they’ve gotten no help for Cade Cunningham, who is carrying this team on his back offensively.
Cade is my biggest argument for making an impactful trade at the deadline, as he is having an All-NBA type year, so why waste it with no secondary ballhandler or consistent scorer behind him?
If anything, going toe-to-toe with one of the best teams in the NBA should show the Pistons they aren’t far off being able to compete at that level themselves, and with the right addition, who knows, they could make the kind of unexpected playoff run that the Pacers made last season, which would be valuable for their young guys.
KJ Martin, Lindy Waters III and Josh Richardson (if any of them are on the team by the end of the day) don’t offer anything but fodder for the business machinations and nothing for the basketball side.
This team isn’t far off, go get Cade Cunningham some help! It doesn’t have to be a blockbuster, but there is a huge swath of players between Lindy Waters III and the superstars being moved in trades.
The Pistons should just keep doing what they are doing
The Pistons have collected three second-round picks so far, and though that is not exciting, they could be useful down the line.
No fan wants to hear about the future at this point, as we have lived in it perpetually for years, but if anything, last night’s loss showed why patience may be their best choice.
This team isn’t that far away, can continue to build, add assets and make their big move in the summer, when there will be players available, as there always are. Detroit wasn’t going to get one of the superstars that have already been moved and won’t get any of the ones in the rumors.
If the right guy isn’t out there, that doesn’t mean you should reach for the wrong one.
If I’m Trajan Langdon, I have to resist the urge for instant gratification and instead focus on long-term, sustainable success. He’s collecting assets and expiring deals that could help towards that.
You could walk away from the Cleveland loss with either perspective and I wouldn’t blame you, as I too am stuck between wanting to see Cade get some help and make a playoff run vs. that possible future that has been dangled in front of us like a carrot for years.
Stay tuned, as the Pistons have to make some kind of roster move today and Langdon may try to find a middle ground between the extremes of big swing and nothing by getting a player who can help them now but doesn’t affect the long-term vision.