The Detroit Pistons are in a good position heading into February’s trade deadline, as they are the only NBA team with cap space, they have an open roster spot and they have expiring contracts.
So when you are perusing the litany of fake trades over the next few weeks, you are likely to see the Pistons, as their cap space could be needed in just about any big deal.
Most of the trades I’ve seen so far treat the Pistons as an afterthought, with them mindlessly giving up their cap space for a player who doesn’t help them nor land them any assets.
Hard pass.
That was the case in a recent wild proposal from Bill Simmons, a guy who has been coming up with some out-there ideas for Detroit.
This may be his worst.
Trade proposal sends Marcus Smart to the Detroit Pistons
Bill Simmons has been coming up with some doozies of late, but this one would certainly give NBA Twitter a jolt:
Spent the weekend in my Trade Machine art studio working on a Jimmy Butler masterpiece. Sorry to CJ McCollum for not fitting him in.
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) January 5, 2025
NO also gets: Mem 2026 1st, Mia 2029 1st, Det 2029 pick swap (top-8 prot).
PS: You can sub Ingram for Zion and NO gets less from Miami. pic.twitter.com/AxTPDdxGyo
I’m going to ignore the big names here (though Zion Williamson in Miami with Pat Riley would be great to watch) and focus on Detroit’s part, which is essentially flipping Tim Hardaway Jr. and a 1st-round pick swap for Marcus Smart.
I guess the big question is why?
The only reason the Pistons took on THJ in the first place was for three second-round picks and the hope of more, and if he provided a little shooting along the way, it would be a bonus.
I wouldn’t be against trading THJ for Smart straight up (though it is questionable considering the Pistons already have Ausar Thompson and Ron Holland II fighting for minutes) but including any type of draft asset is a non-starter for me, even if it is just a pick swap.
Not only is Smart hurt, but hasn’t been great when he was healthy. He’s obviously a far better defender than THJ and I have always liked Smart as a team leader, but the Pistons simply don’t need another player who can defend well but can’t shoot.
Also, considering this deal can’t happen without Detroit’s expiring contract and cap space AND the Pistons are taking on an extra year of Smart, I feel like they should be getting a pick swap, not giving one up.
It's not the worst deal I’ve ever seen, and there is an argument that Smart would be good for this young team, but Detroit has all of the leverage here, so they are going to have to be paid to give away their cap space so that two other teams can swap stars.